In a television interview with a Libyan TV channel yesterday, Tripoli based Libyan Acting Interior Minister, Imad Trabelsi, said Libya might be forced to start the forceful repatriation of its more than 3 million illegal migrants if the EU did not offer more help.
Voluntary repatriation
Trabelsi thanked Italy for its great cooperation in helping Libya with the voluntary repatriation of illegal migrants, specifically announcing the imminent departure voluntarily of 139 illegal migrants – with the help of the UNHCR. These were from Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and mostly from war-torn Sudan. He also praised the UNCHR for helping in the voluntary repatriation of 1,500 in 2024. He said another 8,000 and another 16,000 were also repatriated.
Forced repatriation
Referencing the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump, Trabelsi said Libya could be forced soon to forcibly repatriate illegal migrants. He said Libya could no longer handle the cost of the over 3 million illegal migrants in the country.
The cost of illegal migrants has become burdensome
He said this cost is coming at the expense of providing services to Libyan citizens in the health, education and other sectors.
Illegal migrants need food, medicines etc and the hard currency needed to import and pay for this. There is also the added cost of security. Libya has a limit beyond which it cannot afford. He said the illegal migration file was exhausting Libya.
Libya is a stepping stone to Europe – not a destination
Trabelsi said the illegal migrants in Libya were not targeting Libya as their final destination. They are enroute to Europe and therefore the EU should offer more help to Libya to combat this problem. Libya is working with the Italian and Maltese Navies to prevent them transiting on to Europe, but when they are returned from sea they remain thereafter in Libya. As a result, Libya is paying the price for its efforts, but Libyan citizens are rejecting this burden.
Called for realistic conference on illegal migration after Ramadan
Trabelsi called for the holding of a ‘‘realistic’’ conference on the illegal migration problem after the fasting month of Ramadan (after March) on how to activate the voluntary repatriation.
