Libya’s Al-Jufra Security Directorate has announced the detention of 285 irregular migrants, mostly Sudanese nationals, who were apprehended within the municipality’s administrative borders. The migrants were handed over to the Department for Combating Illegal Migration for processing, care, and eventual repatriation.
According to a statement posted on the directorate’s official Facebook page, the migrants were intercepted and transferred to the town of Hun in central Libya after authorities received a tip-off. The migrants had reportedly entered Al-Jufra’s territory on foot, navigating treacherous terrain in an attempt to reach northern Libya.
The security directorate noted that the group had chosen “dangerous and rough routes” as they fled worsening security and living conditions in their home country. Many are believed to be escaping ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises in Sudan.
Authorities stressed that the operation was part of a broader effort to control illegal migration through Libya’s vast and often porous desert borders. Once in custody, the migrants were provided with basic humanitarian assistance, including food and medical attention, before the start of repatriation procedures.
Libya remains a key transit point for migrants and refugees seeking to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Despite international calls for improved migrant treatment and stronger legal pathways, many continue to risk dangerous journeys through conflict zones and inhospitable terrain.
The latest arrest highlights the persistent challenges faced by Libyan authorities in managing migratory flows, particularly in remote southern and central regions like Al-Jufra, where security forces often struggle with limited resources and vast areas to patrol.
