On Tuesday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani highlighted the vital role of Egypt in mitigating illegal migration and stabilizing Libya, a key concern for Europe’s southern borders.
In his discussions with the Italian news agency Aki, Tajani emphasized Egypt’s strategic importance as a stabilizing force in North Africa and its critical position in addressing migration flows from Libya, a major departure point for migrants aiming for Europe.
The significance of Tajani’s remarks lies in the context of Italy’s deep-seated concerns over the increasing numbers of migrants. According to the Italian Interior Ministry, in 2023 alone, over 22,662 migrants arrived on Italian shores from Libya, with a significant number originating from the country’s tumultuous eastern regions.
Tajani’s statements come against the backdrop of Libya’s prolonged political and social instability following the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi.
This instability has transformed Libya into a critical juncture for migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempting to reach Europe, simultaneously creating a vacuum that has allowed human traffickers to operate with impunity.
Italy, as a frontline European country receiving migrants, has been proactive in seeking collaborative measures with North African nations, particularly Egypt, to control and reduce the flow of migrants.
In focusing on Egypt’s role concerning Libya, Italy acknowledges the intricate web of political, social, and economic factors contributing to the Mediterranean migration crisis. Egypt’s capacity to influence outcomes in Libya, coupled with its efforts to patrol its borders and curb illegal migration, is central to Italy’s strategy in managing migration flows and seeking a more stable North Africa.
According to the Italian news agency Nova, illegal migration attempts to Europe from this area have recently plummeted by 67.1%, marking 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, controlled by the Tripoli-based government of Abdul Hamid Dbaiba.
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 1 to March 15. Among these tragic losses were 15 migrants who succumbed to starvation and dehydration shortly after setting sail from Libya.
