The Minister of Interior in the Government of National Unity, Major General Emad Mustafa Al-Tarabulsi, asserted that the settlement of migrants in Libya is absolutely rejected, speaking during the inauguration of the Specialised Training Centre for the Border Guard Agency. The event was attended by the Head of the EU Delegation to Libya, Nicola Orlando, and representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other international and local officials.
Al-Tarabulsi called upon the European Union to adopt a serious and responsible position in supporting Libya’s efforts to curb irregular migration. He stressed that the real solution must begin with securing the borders and the desert before the sea. He noted the crucial importance of cooperating with Libya in North Africa due to its vital geographic location on the Mediterranean coast.
The Minister pointed out that the establishment of this new centre is the result of cooperation between the Interior Ministry, the EU Delegation, international organisations, and Italy in the security domain, specifically concerning border security, combating irregular migration, and human trafficking. He affirmed that this partnership has facilitated the transfer of security expertise and the development of capacities for personnel working on integrated border management.
Regarding the handling of migrants, Al-Tarabulsi announced the Ministry’s readiness to increase the pace of voluntary repatriation operations for migrants to their countries of origin, provided that the necessary support is delivered by international partners. He clarified that Libyan law stipulates deportation while fully respecting human rights and ensuring migrant dignity, stressing that international cooperation should focus primarily on the file of voluntary repatriation.
The Minister further emphasised the significant scale of the challenges facing Libya in this dossier. He stated that the number of migrants within Libyan territory constitutes an immense pressure on the state, which has resulted in heavy security, economic, and social burdens. He concluded by calling for the Border Guard Agency to be supported with the necessary operational and technical resources to monitor and secure the borders, considering it the nation’s first line of defence against this phenomenon.