Exploitation and Violence in the Experiences of Refugees Traveling from Sub-Saharan Africa to Italy

While refugees from sub-Saharan Africa encounter many difficulties after they flee their home countries, the time that they spend in Libya has become increasingly dangerous. Based on ethnographic research conducted in 2015, 2016, and 2018 at six refugee centers in Siracusa, Sicily, I examine unaccompanied minor refugees’ experiences with violence after crossing the Libyan border. Refugees are often arrested by militias and falsely imprisoned. Furthermore, they are often subjected to modern slavery when local farmers pay their “bail” to leave detention centers in Libya. Due to the increase in criminal groups controlling Libyan borders and sea travel to Italy, the Mediterranean Sea route has changed, creating additional risks for refugees in transit.