The Libyan writer and journalist Inas Hmeida has issued a warning regarding the deterioration of relations between Libyan society and irregular migrants, arguing that recurring, reciprocal incidents foreshadow a ‘societal explosion’ unless Libyan authorities address the escalating crisis urgently and transparently.
In a statement to Salam Channel, Hmeida stressed that the recent migrant run-over incident in Tripoli is not an isolated event but part of a wider series of mutual attacks reflecting a ‘rising state of exasperation and genuine tension’ within Libyan cities. She described the situation as a “painful and dangerous indicator” that is repeated daily, often in “harsher forms.”
Hmeida asserted that state failure is the central catalyst for the deepening crisis. The government lacks a clear vision or policy to regulate the presence of migrants, and effective mechanisms to manage the relationship between Libyans and migrants are absent. This vacuum of authority, both within cities and at the borders, has led to migrants isolating themselves in their own communities, increasing mutual fears and contributing to escalating violence and chaos.
Citing the lack of law enforcement, Hmeida revealed shocking incidents of violence, including the breaking of a migrant worker’s leg in Al-Hadba without intervention from passersby. She noted that such events reflect a growing sentiment of “hostility” or a “reactionary state” manifesting in mutual attacks, as crimes are also being recorded on the part of some migrants.
According to Hmeida, Libyans are deeply concerned about the demographic shift caused by the increasing number of migrants arriving in an “opaque manner” that lacks accurate information and statistics.
On the international front, Hmeida criticised the European role, which she argues focuses only on burdening Libya with the responsibility of securing the EU’s southern border, claiming this stance intensifies pressure on the country. She accused European nations of ‘selectivity’ in dealing with migrants, noting they “choose the educated and the healthy while rejecting the others.”
She also highlighted a dangerous aspect of the humanitarian file, pointing to the “frightening” and unreported conditions within detention centres and the involvement of security elements and individuals in human trafficking. She confirmed that the issue has become a source of illicit wealth, where parties are “receiving millions from behind the migrant file; some have become wealthy from smuggling and repatriating them. They are released into the sea at night and shot at dawn. This is no longer a secret.”
Hmeida also questioned the role of international organisations, expressing doubt as to whether their efforts genuinely aim to repatriate migrants or facilitate the passage of some to European shores.
She concluded that the problem will severely worsen in the future due to the increasing numbers of stateless children born outside the legal framework (many non-Libyan and lacking documents). She warned that these children, who have no identity, will demand their rights in the future, posing a major challenge that the country is ill-equipped to handle.
Finally, Hmeida cautioned that the continuation of this chaos, coupled with the proliferation of weapons, raises the risk of large-scale and dangerous confrontations, stating that the situation today is “more fragile” than ever before.
