The Minister of African Affairs in the Libyan Parliament-designated government, Issa Abdul Majeed held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Sangare, along with other officials from the Nigerien government.
During the meeting, which was held in the city of Dirk in Niger, near the Libyan border, they discussed illegal migration and bilateral cooperation.
Sangare pledged to reconsider the decision of his government to open borders for migration with Libya. Additionally, discussions included the possibility of opening a consulate in the city of Sebha.
Last week, Colonel Abdulrahman Al-Ansari, Head of the Illegal Immigration Agency in Libya’s southern region, disclosed plans to launch an initiative to combat illegal migration. This is in collaboration with units of the Libyan National Army (LNA).
During a press conference on Thursday, Al-Ansari confirmed that they are utilising all available resources to curb this phenomenon, stating, “We have formed a rapid-response cell working in conjunction with the armed forces in the South.”
Al-Ansari pointed out the lack of substantial support from organisations that claim to assist Libya in this domain. He expressed, “In the southern region, we have not seen this support, and these organizations have not provided any tangible assistance.”
Emphasising the need to enforce Libyan laws in this regard, Al-Ansari noted, “We are governed by Law No. 19 of 2010, which criminalises illegal immigration, and we will implement it in all southern regions, in cooperation with the Southern Operations Room.”
He also mentioned that there is information indicating a significant number of people in areas bordering Libya are attempting to enter the country, adding, “We are trying to limit this influx.”
It’s noteworthy that the leader of the Military Council in Niger, Abdel Rahman Tian, had annulled legislation criminalising migrant smuggling in November. This was in response to European sanctions against Niamey.
Libya has emerged as a significant source of illegal migration to Italy, rivalling the traditionally high numbers from Tunisia. This increase is largely attributed to the breakdown of security infrastructure in Libya’s western regions, exacerbated by the dominance of militias. These developments have led to Libya becoming a hub for human trafficking, and illegal immigration activities.