Tobruk, Butnan Municipality

Tobruk (Tobruch) Detention Center (طبرق)

Libya

Status

In use

2026

Type: Immigration detention centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Not Available

Management: General Administration for Combating Irregular Migration (Governmental)

Detains: Adult men, Adult women, Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Reported population Deaths at facility
150
409

31 December 2025

Yes

19 February 2025

Libya

17

Dedicated Detention Centres

200,335

Refugees

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FACILITY NAMES
Tobruk (Tobruch) Detention Center (طبرق)
Location

Country: Libya

City & Region: Tobruk, Butnan Municipality, Africa

Latitude, Longitude: 32.083611, 23.976389

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2026
In use
2025
In use
2024
In use
2023
In use
2021
In use
2020
Last documented use
2018
In use
2018
In use
2017
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2018
Management
Management
Type
Year
General Administration for Combating Irregular Migration
Governmental
2025
Directorate for Combatting Illegal Migration
Governmental
2018
Ministry of the Interior, Department for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM)
Governmental
2016
Outsourced services and non-state actors
Provider
Service
Year
UNHCR
Social services
2017

DETAINEES

Demographics

Adult men

2025

Adult women

2025

Adult men

2023

Adult women

2020

Adult men

2020

Adult men

2018

Adult men

2017
Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2025
Countries of Origin

Country #1 Sudan

Country #2 Bangladesh

Country #3 Egypt

Country #4 Eritrea

Country #5 Ethiopia

2025

Country #1 Egypt

Country #2 Sudan

2023

Country #1 Egypt

Country #2 Sudan

Country #3 Niger

Country #4 Chad

2023

Country #1 Egypt

Country #2 Chad

Country #3 Sudan

2020

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 150

2025

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 130

2017
Reported Single-Day Migration Detainee Population at Facility (day)
Number
Date
409
31 December 2025
900
30 September 2025
12
24 September 2023
21
29 January 2023
2
25 July 2021
9
25 April 2021
38
16 January 2020
55
26 August 2018
12
7 June 2017
Number of men detained on single day
Number
Date
12
24 September 2023
21
29 January 2023
36
16 January 2020
Number of women detained on single day
Number
Date
2
16 January 2020
Reports of Detainee Overpopulation at Facility

Yes

2025

LENGTH OF DETENTION

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

Overall Inspection Score

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

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

CARCERAL INDICATORS

STAFF

Mistreatment Reports

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

Details/Description “[M]igrants, asylum seekers and refugees including children, [are] arbitrarily held in inhumane conditions rife with human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment, forced labour, and extortion.”

Report date (Month) February

Report date (Year) 2026

2026

SEGREGATION

Gender Segregation

Gender Segregation Not Applicable

2023

Gender Segregation Yes

2021

Gender Segregation Yes

2020
Age Segregation

Age Segregation Yes

2023

Age Segregation No

2021

Age Segregation No

2020

CELLS

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Space

Outdoor Space Yes

2023

Outdoor Space Yes

2020

HEALTH

Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours)

Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours) No

2023

Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours) No

2020
Doctor on Duty

Frequency No Doctor on Duty

2023

Frequency No Doctor on Duty

2020
Nurse on Duty

Frequency No Nurse on Duty

2023

Frequency No Nurse on Duty

2020
Psychologist Visits

Frequency No regular visits

2023

Frequency No regular visits

2021

Frequency No regular visits

2020
Inadequate health provisions
Inadequate Health Provisions
Obvs. Date
Health screeningsDoctorsNursesPsychological careEmergency careHospital accessMedication
2023
Health screeningsDoctorsNursesPsychological careHospital accessMedication
2020
Barriers to care
Barriers to Care
Obvs. Date
Unsanitary/inadequate detention conditionsInadequate ventilation
2020
Reports of Deaths
Name of deceased individual
Date of death
N.A.
19 February 2025
Health Impacts
Health Impacts
Obvs. Date
Deaths
2026

MONITORING & ACCESS

Lawyer Access

Lawyer Access No

2023

Lawyer Access No

2020
Monitors & Civil Society Access
Access?
Type of Institution
Year
No
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
2024
Yes
International Organization for Migration
2023
Yes
International Organization for Migration
2020
Yes
International Organization for Migration
2018
Yes
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
2018

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Access to Telephones

Access to Telephones No

2023

Access to Telephones Yes

2021

Access to Telephones No

2020
Internet Access

Internet Access No

2023

Internet Access No

2021

Internet Access No

2020
Access to Personal Cell Phones

Access to Personal Cell Phones No

2023

Access to Personal Cell Phones No

2020

NEWS & TESTIMONY

2026

"In September 2025, around 900 detainees – including 400 Sudanese and others from Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia – were held in Tobruk in a facility built for 150. Severe overcrowding, as well as inadequate food, water, sanitation, and healthcare created life-threatening conditions, with guards reportedly extorting 2,500–7,000 LYD (approximately 500- 1,000 USD) for release." - UNSMIL and OHCHR