Libya for Libyans: Citizens demand action to address the worsening migration crisis in Tripoli

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

On Thursday, the Libyan capital, Tripoli, witnessed widespread protests against the increasing number of irregular migrants, as hundreds of demonstrators closed the headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Al-Sarraj area, demanding a halt to what they described as the ”worsening migration crisis” in the country.

The protesters raised slogans rejecting the continued presence of migrants inside Libya. They also set up tents in front of the headquarters and closed its main gate using a truck loaded with sand, in an escalation that reflects the growing public discontent with the migration issue.

The largest demonstration in Libya

This demonstration is the largest in a series of protests that Libya has witnessed recently, amid accusations from some citizens that migrants are exacerbating social, economic and security problems, given the conditions the country has been experiencing since 2011.

Over the past years, Libya has become one of the most prominent transit points for migrants coming from sub-Saharan African countries, whether for the purpose of working within the country or trying to reach the European coasts via the Mediterranean Sea, taking advantage of its geographical location and proximity to the European continent.

Following the protest, a number of demonstrators headed to the headquarters of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, while the mission affirmed its respect for the right of citizens to peacefully express their opinions, while condemning any acts of incitement or threats targeting United Nations staff or its headquarters.

For its part, the United Nations stressed that there is no program to resettle migrants within Libya, explaining that the UNHCR’s tasks are limited to providing protection to those fleeing conflicts and working to find solutions outside Libyan territory, including evacuation to third countries or facilitating voluntary return to their countries of origin.

According to United Nations data, Libya hosts more than 900,000 migrants, while its population is around 7 million, which puts increasing pressure on the country's services and infrastructure.

In the same context, the Libyan Foreign Minister-designate, Taher Al-Bawer, denied the existence of any plans or projects aimed at settling migrants inside Libya, stressing that the country does not have the capacity to absorb these numbers, and calling for addressing the political and security reasons that contribute to the influx of migrants.