The enforced disappearance of a Kenyan-South Sudanese businessman in Nairobi and the indefinite detention of Italian activists in Libya have triggered urgent calls for action from human rights organisations and family members, exposing the precariousness of due process in two very different but equally troubling contexts. In Kenya, Amnesty International has demanded the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of Athorbey Al Gaddhaffy Dit, who was seized by armed, masked individuals at 3am in Nairobi. Credible information suggests he may be held at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport pending deportation to South Sudan, a move that would place his life and fundamental rights at grave risk. Viewed from Nairobi, the case bears the hallmarks of an enforced disappearance, a serious violation under both Kenyan and international law, and raises questions about the state’s role in such operations.

Meanwhile, in Libya, the legal limbo surrounding ten activists from the overland Flotilla mission—including two Italians, Dina Alberizia and Domenico Centrone—has deepened. A scheduled court hearing was postponed indefinitely, with authorities citing the need for further investigation. The activists, who were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via the Rafah crossing, have been held without charges, denied access to their lawyer, and are effectively being detained by a government not recognised by international institutions. From Rome, the situation is described as a kidnapping by a militia-run administration, with the Italian government urged to intervene directly. The lack of progress has sparked hunger strikes and protests in thirteen countries, with solidarity actions planned outside Libyan embassies and foreign ministries.

Analysts in London note that both cases underscore a broader erosion of legal protections for individuals caught in the crosshairs of geopolitical tensions. In Kenya, the alleged deportation plan hints at cooperation with South Sudanese authorities, while in Libya, the detention of activists appears linked to the country’s fractured governance and its role in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Italian government, which maintains extensive economic and diplomatic ties with Libya, faces mounting pressure to leverage its influence, but the opaque nature of the detention makes progress difficult.

Looking ahead, the trajectories of these cases will depend on sustained international pressure and the willingness of the respective authorities to adhere to legal norms. For the businessman in Nairobi, the immediate risk is deportation to a country where he may face persecution; for the activists in Libya, the danger is a prolonged detention without trial. As the families and rights groups escalate their campaigns, the coming weeks will test whether diplomatic channels can yield results or whether these individuals will remain pawns in larger geopolitical games.