Libya deported 177 Nigerian migrants on Tuesday, mostly women, as part of a voluntary repatriation program. Mohamed Bred’a, a deportation officer with the Illegal Migration Control Department, confirmed the repatriation. He stated that the migrants, including nine children and eight infants, were flown out of Tripoli Mitiga International Airport.
Continued Deportation Efforts Planned
Bred’a added that further repatriation flights were scheduled for the week. He emphasized that the deportations were voluntary and part of the department’s ongoing plan to manage migration. Libya has been a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, particularly since the country’s instability following the 2011 fall of leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Libyan Interior Minister Calls for More EU Support
On Monday, Libyan Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi called on the European Union (EU) and other nations affected by migration flows from Libya to offer more support. He stressed the importance of securing Libya’s southern borders to combat illegal migration. Al-Tarabelsi pointed out that focusing solely on coastal monitoring, as the EU has emphasized, was insufficient.
Addressing Root Causes of Migration
The Minister also urged for development projects in the countries of origin to address the root causes of migration. He suggested that such initiatives could reduce the number of people attempting dangerous journeys to Europe.
