Libya’s Illegal Migration Control Agency in Tripoli announced on Friday that a group of irregular migrants from Niger had been deported by land for the first time in years.
According to an official statement, the deportation was coordinated between the agency’s deportation office and the Nigerien embassy in Libya. The migrants were expelled via the Toum border crossing after being found in violation of Libyan immigration laws.
The agency expressed gratitude to security forces across central, eastern, and southern Libya for their cooperation in facilitating the deportation process.
This land-based deportation marks a shift from previous repatriation efforts, which mainly relied on flights arranged by international organisations. Libya remains a key transit point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with thousands stranded in detention centres or makeshift camps.
In a separate report, the North Africa Post revealed that Libya had deported 960 Nigerian migrants between January and March. This group included 683 women, 132 men, 87 children, and 54 infants, all of whom were repatriated on six separate flights.
The increasing deportations highlight Libya’s ongoing efforts to manage its migrant population amid growing pressure from European nations and international bodies. However, humanitarian organisations continue to raise concerns about the conditions in which migrants are held before repatriation.
