South African Regulator Declares Libyan Military Training Camp Illegal, Links to Conflict

Photo : AP

A South African regulatory body has declared a military-style training camp, where 95 Libyans were detained last month, illegal. The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) announced on Wednesday that the camp, located near White River, approximately 360 kilometers east of Johannesburg, violated several regulations.

The Libyan detainees had been held since July 26, following a police raid on the remote facility. Although the company operating the camp, Milites Dei Academy, was registered with PSIRA, the specific location where the Libyans were found was not accredited. PSIRA's chief, Manabela Chauke, revealed that the camp did not meet the required standards for such facilities.

The investigation uncovered that some instructors at the camp were not South African and were utilizing military ranks. The training provided was noted to be influenced by foreign standards or adopted from other countries. Chauke did not specify the nationalities of these instructors or the entity that contracted the training.

Reports suggest that the detained Libyans might have been sent to South Africa to receive training for Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan faction, which controls the eastern region of Libya. Under South Africa’s Foreign Military Assistance Act, it is illegal to provide military or security training to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict.

Chauke emphasized that the camp's design and infrastructure supported a military-style training environment, which was contrary to the regulations. As a result, Milites Dei Academy is facing legal consequences. The company’s license has been suspended, and criminal charges are being prepared against its owners. 

The head of Milites Dei Academy has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the Libyans were being trained as security guards and that their study permits and visas were in order. However, the South African government previously stated that the visas used by the men were obtained through irregular means in Tunis and involved misrepresentation. Consequently, these visas have been canceled.

The detained individuals face charges related to immigration violations, and their case has been postponed until August 26 to allow for further investigation. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges being filed.

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