The eastern region of Libya, under the control of the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has seen a dramatic decrease in migrant departures.
According to the Italian news agency Nova, irregular migration attempts to Europe from this area have plummeted by 67.1%. This marks a significant turn in the migration patterns observed at the start of 2023.
Contrary to earlier in the year when eastern Libya, particularly the Cyrenaica region, was a primary departure point for migrants heading to Europe, recent figures show a stark reduction. This year, merely 50 migrants have embarked on the perilous journey from Cyrenaica, a number significantly lower than the thousands departing from the western parts of Libya. These areas are controlled by the Tripoli-based government of Abdelhamid Dbaiba.
The LNA has ramped up its crackdown on human smuggling networks and irregular migration within its territories, including Cyrenaica and Fezzan. This vigorous campaign has led to the dismantling of key smuggling infrastructure. It has done so alongside the implementation of strict security measures on the borders and coastlines. This effectively curtails the flow of irregular migrants through these areas.
Data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) underscores the impact of these measures, with Libyan authorities intercepting and returning 1,915 irregular migrants in the timeframe between January 9th and March 15th alone.
Meanwhile, the situation in western Libya contrasts sharply, with a notable increase in migration activities. Reports from Nova suggest that migrant departures from Libyan shores are almost exclusively occurring from areas around Tripoli.
The Italian Interior Ministry’s recent figures further illuminate this shift, revealing a 67.1% year-on-year decrease in migrant arrivals to Italy since the onset of 2024. Approximately 6,560 migrants have reached Italy in this period, compared to 19,937 in the same timeframe last year, with nearly two-thirds of these arrivals originating from Libya. In contrast, arrivals from Tunisia have decreased by 86%, accounting for 86.1% of the total.
Despite the reduction in numbers, the central Mediterranean route remains perilously deadly. The IOM has documented 190 migrant fatalities and 9 missing at sea from January 1st to March 15th. Among these tragic losses were 15 migrants who succumbed to starvation and dehydration shortly after setting sail from Libya.
