South Africa: 95 Libyans arrested at secret military camp

South African police arrested 95 Libyan nationals in a raid on a suspected secret military training camp on Friday, and authorities said they were investigating whether there were other illegal bases in other parts of the country.

The camp was discovered on a farm in White River , Mpumalanga province, about 360km northeast of Johannesburg , police said.

National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said in a post on social media site X that the Libyans had said they had entered the country on student visas to train as security guards, but police investigations suggest they received military training .

The news channel Newzroom Afrika TV broadcast footage from the site of the arrests, showing a military-style camp with large green and khaki tents set up in rows. Dozens of men are seen queuing up as they are arrested. They were wearing civilian clothes.

Local government official Jackie Macie said investigations were ongoing and the farm owner would be questioned. He said authorities had been informed of similar secret camps near two other towns in Mpumalanga province.

The province borders Mozambique and Eswatini, and is an area of ​​concern for South African authorities regarding illegal immigration .

Police and authorities have not said whether the camps are suspected of being linked to any particular group or conflict.

Mr Macie said the investigations would establish whether there was a network of camps in South Africa and show "why they are here doing military training in our country" .

Police said the operation to arrest the Libyans and close the camp began two days ago. Macie said the Libyan nationals had been in the country since at least April.

"The 95 people in custody are all Libyan nationals and are currently being questioned by the relevant authorities ," Mpumalanga acting provincial police commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi said in a statement.