ECHOES

Migrants and refugees being sold into slavery in Libya is not really new information. In April 2017, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that along the North African migrant routes its staff discovered "slave markets" where hundreds of African young men are being tormented. But following CNN's release of footage showing men being sold by an auctioneer for the equivalent of $800, there was finally international outrage. There were demonstrations in Paris, Stockholm and New York with slogans such as "Free our brothers!" and "Black people are not slaves!" The chairman of the African Union , Guinean President Alpha Conde, demanded prosecutions for these crimes and Libya announced it was reportedly launching an investigation into the matter. But while the outrage has focused on the Libyan authorities, it has very much ignored the role the European Union has played in enabling such despicable abuse. The EU has pushed to curb migration...

Former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Barcelona striker, Samuel Eto’o, has denied the report that he paid for tickets for Cameroonian immigrants back to Libya. The former Cameroon striker, while refuting the claims, said the ‘rumor is profoundly unfounded’ He wrote, “Several sites have circulated a rumor that I would have given money to every migrant returnee, in relation to a topical issue. This rumor is absolutely unfounded! “I would therefore take advantage of this opportunity, dear brothers and sisters, to emphasize that love prevents more evils than money can solve. “So let’s not waste our precious time looking for thrills at the expense of grieving people, but let us use this time to prevent other brothers from being deprived of their dignity. “Let us not just react when we can prevent, because among these victims are certainly people who have been our neighbours at some point, but to whom we have not daigné to look kindly. “Let us build our Africa by having a positive impact on e...