The Libyan Government-designate has announced its readiness to host the inaugural African-European Conference on Migration in Benghazi at the end of May.
In preparation for this significant event, the Institute for Diplomatic Studies, affiliated with the same government’s Foreign Ministry, organised a preparatory seminar on Mediterranean migration in Tangier, Morocco, from March 28th to 30th.
The seminar, held in collaboration with the Mediterranean Migration and Asylum Commission, saw participation from a diverse group of academics, politicians, human rights advocates, and civil society representatives from Libya, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Senegal, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Abdelhadi Al-Hwaij, the Libyan Foreign Minister, emphasised the government’s efforts in addressing migration issues and providing assistance to migrants from Africa and the Sub-Saharan region. He also refuted any allegations of migrant rights violations in areas controlled by the government under Osama Hammad.
The announcement of the conference and the preparatory seminar highlights the active role Libya seeks to play in addressing Mediterranean migration challenges. It fosters the dialogue and cooperation between African and European nations.
With migration issues being at the forefront of Mediterranean politics, this conference in Benghazi represents a pivotal moment for collaborative efforts between Africa and Europe. It underscores the necessity for international cooperation in addressing the complexities of migration and the humanitarian needs of migrants.
Notably, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) facilitated the voluntary return of 133 migrants from Libya to Pakistan last week, as part of its Voluntary Humanitarian Return Program. The migrants were flown from Benghazi to Islamabad, according to an IOM Libya statement.
Libya’s Interior Minister, Emad al-Tarabelsi, has announced plans to repatriate over 20,000 migrants in the country illegally within the year.
This announcement comes in the wake of the IOM’s discovery of at least 65 migrant bodies in a mass grave in southwestern Libya, believed to have died during smuggling operations. The discovery was made in the Wadi Al-Jahriya, Shuwairif area, about 421 kilometers south of Tripoli.
Drone footage released by the Ministry of Interior’s Criminal Investigation Department showed the area marked with white markers and yellow tape. After DNA sampling, the bodies were buried as directed by the Chief Prosecutor of Gharyan Primary Court.
The IOM recorded at least 3,129 migrant deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean Sea in 2023, highlighting it as the “most deadly migration route.” The organisation emphasises the need for legal migration pathways to prevent such tragedies and calls for improved regional cooperation to safeguard migrants.
