Rédaction Africa Links 24 with AFP
Published on 2024-02-01 08:18:04
Libyan authorities have initiated the process of sending 350 irregular migrants back to their home country of Egypt, according to an immigration official. The war-torn country has become a key departure point for migrants from different parts of Africa who embark on dangerous sea voyages in the hopes of reaching Europe.
In the past year, Libya’s rival administrations agreed to establish a Tripoli-based anti-immigration body responsible for coordinating the deportation of foreigners who are in the country illegally. This body, known as the Directorate for Combatting Illegal Migration, operates under the interior ministry and has now begun the process of deporting Egyptian nationals who were in an irregular situation.
One official mentioned that the plan is to continue deporting more individuals in the coming days. On Tuesday, 323 migrants, including many women, were sent back to Nigeria from Tripoli and Benghazi. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has facilitated two “voluntary humanitarian returns” charter flights from Libya to Nigeria, with a total of 327 migrants, the majority of whom were women.
The IOM has been implementing a voluntary humanitarian return program for migrants and asylum-seekers in Libya since October 2015. They have assisted over 77,000 migrants from 48 different countries of origin in returning home under this program. In November and December, 600 and 650 irregular migrants, respectively, were sent back to Egypt.
The current group being returned to Egypt consists of men, including some children. A significant number of migrants of African or Asian nationality, mostly from Nigeria, have been sent back to their homelands from Libya. These individuals often attempt to cross to Lampedusa in Italy, but are intercepted by authorities in Libya.
Some of the migrants, including a 16-year-old named Ziyad Salama Abdellatif, were apprehended while attempting to make the treacherous sea journey to Italy. Others, like Bakri Mohamad Sobhi, shared stories of entering Libya illegally and being arrested at police checkpoints, highlighting the risks and challenges faced by irregular migrants.
In addition to those seeking to reach Europe, thousands of Egyptians have resided in Libya without legal documentation for years, engaging in work mainly in agriculture, construction, and commerce. The country’s decade of violence and instability following the overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011 has created a fertile ground for human traffickers, leading to accusations of abuse against migrants.
The need to address the issue of irregular migration in Libya remains a complex and pressing issue, with the ongoing efforts to return migrants to their home countries serving as part of a broader strategy to manage migration flows and strengthen border controls.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
