Tripoli based Minister of the Interior, Major General Emad Al-Trabelsi, announced at a press conference at the Ministry’s Tripoli headquarters yesterday that the National Programme for the Deportation of Illegal Immigrants repatriated thousands and aims to repatriate 60,000 per month.
The conference was attended by the ambassadors of Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Spain, Germany, Bangladesh, Somalia, and the European Union, as well as the chargés d’affaires of the embassies of Egypt, Niger, and Qatar. Also present were the advisor to the Saudi embassy, the second secretary of the Japanese embassy, a representative from the Swiss embassy, the second secretary of Pakistan, and the Sudanese consul, in addition to representatives from several international organizations and diplomatic missions.
Thousands of immigrants have been repatriated
The Minister explained that the Ministry of the Interior had in fact launched the National Programme for the Deportation of Illegal Immigrants of various nationalities in October, including those from Egypt, Niger, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. He noted that thousands of immigrants have been deported via flights, in accordance with legal procedures and in coordination with the embassies of the countries concerned.
Repatriation implemented according to humanitarian standards
The Minister emphasized that the programme is being implemented according to humanitarian standards, including safe transportation, adequate accommodation, and the presence of representatives from embassies and international organizations to ensure respect for human rights. He also clarified that exit visa procedures are completed within 48 hours, with migrants exempted from fines and provided with temporary accommodation in assembly centers.
The Minister noted that the Mediterranean Forum 2024, hosted by Tripoli, strengthened cooperation with European partners to support border control efforts and combat human trafficking networks.
He added that work continues throughout December to repatriate thousands more migrants from Chad, Sudan, Syria, Somalia, and Mali, prioritizing women and children as the most vulnerable groups.
Repatriation to enhance national security and border control
The Minister explained that the repatriation programme aims to enhance national security and border control, prevent any attempts to settle illegal migrants within Libya, and promote international cooperation based on the principle of burden-sharing to support national efforts in managing migration from both a security and humanitarian perspective.
All Libyans oppose permanent settlement of migrants
He emphasized that the settlement of migrants is categorically rejected, and that the Libyan people, in all their diversity, oppose this.
The Minister pointed out that the repatriation programme enjoys the support of the Tripoli government and is being monitored by the National Security Advisor, stressing the need for support for national efforts by relevant countries and organizations, given the security, social, and economic repercussions of this issue on Libya and the destination countries.
Aim to raise deportations to 60,000 per month
The minister concluded his speech by saying, “We have already begun implementing deportation operations, and we are not in the stage of preparing to launch them. We have been working on this file for the past fourteen months, and we have been able to deport thousands of migrants to their countries. It is important that there be solidarity and support from everyone for the efforts of the Government of National Unity and the Ministry of Interior, so that we can raise the pace of deportation to sixty thousand migrants per month.” He stressed that these efforts are one of the most important measures to confront attempts at resettlement, and it is the duty of the Libyan people to support these national steps to protect the country’s security and stability.
