Tripoli, Abu Salim district

Abu Salim Detention Centre (ابو سليم)

Libya

Status

In use

2026

Type: Immigration detention centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Department for Combating Illegal Immigration (DCIM), Departments of Anti-Infiltration and Illegal Immigration

Management: General Administration for Combating Irregular Migration (Governmental)

Detains: Asylum seekers (administrative), Non-immigration-related administrative detainees, Unaccompanied minors, Accompanied minors, Adult women, Adult men, Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Reported population Deaths at facility
1200
510

29 September 2023

Yes

August 2023

Libya

17

Dedicated Detention Centres

200,335

Refugees

To country overview
FACILITY NAMES
Abu Salim Detention Centre (ابو سليم)

Alternative Names: Abusliem

Location

Country: Libya

City & Region: Tripoli, Abu Salim district, Africa

Latitude, Longitude: 32.839416, 13.17192

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2026
In use
2025
In use
2024
In use
2023
In use
2023
In use
2021
In use
2020
In use
2019
In use
2017
In use
2015
In use
2014
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2026
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2014
Management
Management
Type
Year
General Administration for Combating Irregular Migration
Governmental
2025
Ministry of Interior, Department for Combating Illegal Immigration (DCIM)
Governmental
2023
Ministry of Interior, Department for Combating Illegal Immigration (DCIM)
Governmental
2014
Custodial Authorities
Agency
Ministry
Ministry type
Year
Department for Combating Illegal Immigration (DCIM)
Ministry of the Interior
Interior or Home Affairs
2014
Departments of Anti-Infiltration and Illegal Immigration
Ministry of the Interior
Interior or Home Affairs
2008
Outsourced services and non-state actors
Provider
Service
Year
NGO
Not Available
2023
IOM and DRC
Telephone services
2017
IOM, UNHCR (IMC), DRC and CIR
Social services
2017
UNHCR (IMC) & CIR (Consiglio Italiano per i Rifugiati)
Food services
2017
UNHCR (IMC)
Health care
2017
Mixed Migration Working Group (UNHCR, IOM, DRC, CIR and other partner NGOs)
Health care
2017
Mixed Migration Working Group (UNHCR, IOM, DRC, CIR and other partner NGOs)
Social services
2017

DETAINEES

Demographics

Unaccompanied minors

2025

Accompanied minors

2025

Adult women

2025

Adult men

2025

Adult women

2024

Accompanied minors

2024

Unaccompanied minors

2024

Unaccompanied minors

2023

Adult women

2023

Accompanied minors

2023

Accompanied minors

2017

Adult women

2017

Adult men

2017

Adult women

2015

Adult men

2015

Accompanied minors

2015
Categories of detainees

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2025

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2025

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2023

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2023

Non-immigration-related administrative detainees

2015

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2015

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2015
Countries of Origin

Country #1 Eritrea

Country #2 Burkina Faso

Country #3 Côte d'Ivoire

Country #4 Niger

Country #5 Nigeria

2023

Country #1 Eritrea

Country #2 Ethiopia

Country #3 Cameroon

Country #4 Nigeria

Country #5 South Africa

2023
At-Risk Populations

Asylum seekers

2025

Refugees

2025

Accompanied children

2025

Unaccompanied children

2025

People exhibiting mental or physical health illnesses

2023

Disabled persons

2023

Unaccompanied children

2023

Victims of trafficking

2023

Victims of torture

2023

Pregnant women

2023

Accompanied children

2023

Breastfeeding women

2023

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 1200

2017

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 1000

2015
Reported Single-Day Migration Detainee Population at Facility (day)
Number
Date
510
29 September 2023
320
29 January 2023
660
25 July 2021
416
25 April 2021
218
30 March 2021
145
29 September 2020
910
28 January 2020
150
16 April 2019
Number of men detained on single day
Number
Date
60
29 September 2023
20
29 January 2023
Number of women detained on single day
Number
Date
450
29 September 2023
300
29 January 2023
Number of children (under 18) detained on single day
Number
Date
110
29 September 2023
Reports of Detainee Overpopulation at Facility

Yes

2023

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Detention Timeframe (long, medium, short)

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2013

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

Overall Inspection Score

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2026

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2023
Inadequate conditions
Inadequate Conditions
Obvs. Date
2026
2025
2024
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2021
2021
2021
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
2017
2017
2017
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015

CARCERAL INDICATORS

Internal Security Regime

Security Level High Security (locked in cells all or most of time)

2023
Armed Internal Personnel

Armed Internal Personnel Yes

2023
Armed External Guards

Armed Guards? Yes

2015

STAFF

Mistreatment Reports

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

Details/Description Reports of strip searches, sexual harassment, arbitrary detention in inhumane conditions, human rights violations, torture and ill-treatment, forced labour, and extortion.

Report date (Month) February

Report date (Year) 2026

2026

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

2023

SEGREGATION

Gender Segregation

Gender Segregation No

2023

Gender Segregation Yes

2023

Gender Segregation Yes

2021

Gender Segregation Yes

2020

Gender Segregation Yes

2017

Gender Segregation Yes

2015
Age Segregation

Age Segregation No

2023

Age Segregation No

2021

Age Segregation Yes

2020

Age Segregation Yes

2017

Age Segregation No

2015
Legal Segregation

Legal Segregation Yes

2015

CELLS

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee No

2023

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Space

Outdoor Space Yes

2023

Outdoor Space Yes

2021
Leisure Equipment

Leisure Equipment Yes

2023
Language Classes

Language Classes No

2023
Remunerated Work

Remunerated Work No

2023

HEALTH

Overall assessment of facility health care provision

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2023
Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours)

Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours) Yes

2023

Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours) Yes

2021
Doctor on Duty

Frequency At least once a week

2023
Nurse on Duty

Frequency At least once a week

2023
Psychologist Visits

Frequency At least once a week

2023

Frequency No regular visits

2020
Inadequate health provisions
Inadequate Health Provisions
Obvs. Date
Psychological careGender-specific careMedicationSexual & reproductive health
2023
Barriers to care
Barriers to Care
Obvs. Date
Unsanitary/inadequate detention conditionsInadequate food or water provisionInadequate ventilation
2023
Reports of Deaths
Name of deceased individual
Date of death
N.A.
August 2023
Reports of self-harming
Self harm reported
Incident/Report date
Yes
Reports of Injury/Physical Harm
Injury/physical harm reported
Incident/Report date
Yes
2023
Health Impacts
Health Impacts
Obvs. Date
DeathsPhysical abuseRape/sexual violenceIllnessSelf-harmingAnxiety/panic disorders
2023

MONITORING & ACCESS

Lawyer Access

Lawyer Access Yes

2023

Lawyer Access Yes

2021
Monitors & Civil Society Access
Access?
Type of Institution
Year
Yes
International Organization for Migration
2023
Yes
International Organization for Migration
2021
Yes
International Organization for Migration
2015
Yes
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
2014
Yes
National Red Cross Federation
2013

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Access to Telephones

Access to Telephones No

2023
Free Outgoing Local Calls

Free Outgoing Local Calls No

2023
Computer Access

Computer Access No

2023
Internet Access

Internet Access No

2023

Internet Access No

2021
Access to Personal Cell Phones

Access to Personal Cell Phones No

2023