Tripoli: Today marks the 114th anniversary of a tragic chapter in Libya’s history, when on October 26, 1911, over five thousand Libyans were forcibly exiled by Italian forces to remote islands. This event remains one of the most severe acts of European colonialism in Africa.
According to Libyan News Agency, the mass exile followed the Italian invasion of Libya, where locals from cities such as Tripoli, Al-Khoms, Misrata, Derna, and Benghazi vigorously resisted the occupation. In retaliation, the Italian forces implemented collective punishment, transporting thousands of Libyans in unsafe boats to the islands of Tremiti, Ponza, and Ustica. These islands, previously used for exiling criminals and political dissidents, became sites of suffering where Libyans faced hunger, disease, and harsh conditions, leading to numerous deaths and unknown burials.
This atrocity was part of a broader pattern of oppression by the Italian occupiers from 1911 to 1943, characterized by mass executions, forced exiles, and the esta
blishment of concentration camps, notably in Cyrenaica. In a gesture of reconciliation, Italy officially apologized on August 30, 2008, with then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi signing an agreement to compensate Libya with five billion dollars over 25 years. However, the agreement’s progress stalled after 2011 due to Libya’s political instability, prompting Libyan authorities to urge Italy to fulfill its commitments.
The political editor of the Libyan News Agency noted that Italy’s acknowledgment of its colonial crimes is a crucial step toward historical justice but requires concrete actions to be meaningful. The editor emphasized the need for former colonial powers to assume responsibility for their past actions.
The editor concluded that October 26 will remain a somber day in Libyan memory, serving as a reminder of resilience and the enduring legacy of history.