In a significant development ahead of the African-European Migration Conference scheduled for May 25 in Benghazi, Libyan Ministers, Abdulhadi Al-Hwaij of Foreign Affairs and Fathi Al-Tubawi of Migration, held a crucial meeting to discuss logistical and media arrangements. This meeting, the fifteenth of the preparatory committee, highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure the conference’s success, emphasizing spatial designs and media preparations.
The conference aims to address critical migration issues between Africa and Europe, and the preparations underscore Libya’s commitment to facilitating a productive dialogue. The discussions between Al-Hwaij and Al-Tubawi reflect the intensive planning and coordination efforts involved, marking a pivotal step towards addressing migration challenges and enhancing cooperation between the two continents.
This forthcoming international event in Benghazi represents a key moment for Libya as it continues to play a crucial role in migration discussions on the international stage.
Earlier this month, Algerian Interior Minister Ibrahim Murad announced that Algeria has agreed with Libya and Tunisia on a joint approach to develop border regions as part of efforts to combat irregular migration. This agreement was revealed during a quadripartite meeting held in Rome, Italy, chaired by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and attended by Imad al-Trabulsi of Libya’s Temporary National Unity Government and Tunisian Interior Minister Kamel Feki.
During the meeting, Murad emphasized the need to move beyond restrictive approaches that focus solely on operational, security, and administrative measures against irregular migration. He advocated for addressing the root causes of migration by adopting comprehensive, fair, and effective solutions.
The discussions, which Murad noted had been a focal point in recent talks between Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied and Libyan Presidential Council head Mohamed Younis Menfi, concluded with an agreement to develop a participatory approach. This approach aims at the development of border areas and harmonizing views on migration issues in the region.
Additionally, Minister Piantedosi called for regional efforts to halt secret migration caravans, stating, “Our strategic priority should be to strengthen land border stability starting from the Sahel region.”
The meeting also involved delegating specific tasks to enhance strategies for voluntary return assistance, facilitated by an upcoming monitoring room session, and information exchange to combat human trafficking networks, as outlined by the Italian Interior Ministry.
