On Saturday, Libya’s Prime Minister, Osama Hammad, reaffirmed his government’s firm rejection of any attempt to resettle irregular migrants in Libya, warning that such efforts threaten the country’s sovereignty and demographic stability.
Speaking at a high-level security meeting on migration, Hammad stated that Libya will not allow migrant resettlement under any pretext, including proposals to regulate their stay or create designated housing zones outside major cities.
He accused the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdulhamid Dbaiba, of using migration as a cover to introduce resettlement policies, contradicting its own public stance.
Hammad argued that any effort to normalize the prolonged presence of irregular migrants in Libya is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Hammad dismissed claims by the GNU that Libya’s southern borders are open and unprotected, emphasizing that the Libyan National Army (LNA) and security forces maintain full control over border security.
He criticised the GNU’s limited authority, stating that it struggles to assert control beyond its headquarters in Tripoli and should focus on tackling human smuggling networks within the capital rather than making baseless claims about border security in the south.
He reaffirmed that Libya remains committed to humanitarian principles and human rights, but stressed that the only solution is the organized and voluntary return of migrants to their home countries.
He highlighted his government’s ongoing efforts, in coordination with the LNA, to repatriate large numbers of migrants in a safe and dignified manner, particularly Sudanese refugees fleeing war.
Hammad outlined the LNA’s continued crackdown on human trafficking and organized crime, detailing recent operations that dismantled smuggling networks, freed hostages, and seized weapons and drugs.
He made it clear that Libyan security forces have been instructed to avoid violence against migrants, condemning calls for aggression as irresponsible and dangerous.
Expressing frustration over the lack of international response, Hammad criticised the UN mission in Libya for remaining silent on the GNU’s recent statements regarding migration policies, questioning the inconsistencies in the international approach to Libya’s migration crisis.
He issued a clear warning against any attempt by the GNU to move armed units toward the south under the pretense of securing the borders, calling such an action a direct provocation.
Hammad assured that the LNA and security forces are fully capable of protecting Libya’s borders and will act decisively against any threat to national stability.
Urging Libyans to stay vigilant, Hammad called on the public to reject misleading narratives and external agendas, reaffirming that his government, in coordination with the LNA and security agencies, will not allow any action that undermines Libya’s sovereignty or disrupts its demographic balance.
