South African authorities recently detained 95 Libyan nationals during a raid on an alleged secret military training camp. They are now examining the possibility of other illegal military installations elsewhere in the country.
According to police, the camp was located on a farm in White River, Mpumalanga, roughly 360 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Johannesburg.
Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, mentioned on the social media platform X that the Libyan nationals had reportedly entered the country on student visas for security guard training. However, investigations by the police indicate that they may have received military training.
Footage from the Newzroom Afrika TV news channel displayed the scene of the arrests, featuring a military-style camp with rows of large green and khaki tents. The images revealed numerous men in civilian attire being lined up for their detentions.
Jackie Macie, a local government representative, reported that the investigation is still underway and the farm’s proprietor will be questioned.
He also announced that officials have received intelligence about other hidden camps in two extra towns within Mpumalanga province.
Mpumalanga province, which borders Mozambique and Swaziland, is a focus for South African authorities due to worries about illegal immigration.
While police have not confirmed any links between the camps and specific groups or conflicts, investigations aim to determine if there is a network of such facilities and their purpose.
Authorities also suspect a connection between the men and recent crimes, including rape and armed robbery, reported in nearby communities.
Police spokesman Donald Mdhluli noted that some of these crimes involve perpetrators described as foreign nationals of Asian descent.
Security Concerns
“We are extremely concerned about what has been discovered,” stated a police official. “We do not know who provided the training, its purpose, or why it was completed in South Africa. This could pose a danger not only to our country but to the whole southern Africa region.”
The operation to arrest the Libyans and shut down the camp began two days prior. Jackie Macie mentioned that the Libyan nationals had been in South Africa since at least April.
Mpumalanga’s acting provincial police commissioner, Maj. Gen. Zeph Mkhwanazi, confirmed that the 95 detained people are Libyan nationals and are currently under interrogation by the authorities.
Police spokesman Donald Mdhluli added that the security regulator had verified that the training at the camp went well beyond what would be required for security guards. “The equipment and setup indicate that this was practically a military base,” he said.
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