Hundreds of Libyan protesters gathered outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Tripoli, demanding the deportation of irregular migrants and opposing any plans for their permanent settlement in the country. The demonstrators blocked entrances to the agency’s headquarters, with security forces present but no reports of clashes or injuries. This protest reflects the escalating debate in Libya regarding irregular migration and the increasing calls for action from the public and officials.
Video footage shared on social media captured the protesters’ actions as they voiced their rejection of any arrangements that could lead to the permanent stay of irregular migrants in Libya. The UNHCR, however, has not yet commented on the incident. Libya serves as a crucial transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean due to its strategic location and extensive borders. The UNHCR clarified that it does not implement programs to settle migrants in Libya or take over the state’s role in managing migration-related matters.
Amidst the ongoing debate on migration issues in Libya, activists and citizens have staged protests outside the UNHCR office in Tripoli, accusing the agency of attempting to resettle migrants and refugees in the country. The UNHCR has consistently refuted these claims, emphasizing its focus on providing humanitarian aid in coordination with Libyan authorities and not engaging in refugee resettlement programs within Libya.
A recent report by the UN refugee agency highlighted that over 559,920 Sudanese refugees have entered Libya since the conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023, marking one of the largest displacement crises in the region in recent years. The agency’s statements on the matter come as tensions rise over the perceived resettlement of migrants in Libya, with citizens and activists expressing their opposition through protests and sit-ins outside the UNHCR office in Tripoli.
