The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has assisted 687 migrants in voluntarily returning from Libya to their home countries through four repatriation flights conducted between June 12 and June 22, 2026.
According to the IOM, the migrants returned to Chad, Mali, and Nigeria under its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program, which provides support to migrants who choose to return home safely and voluntarily.
The organization said medical care and protection services were provided before departure to ensure a safe and dignified return for all participants. It also thanked the European Union for supporting the operations.
One of the latest flights carried 162 Chadian nationals from Benghazi to N’Djamena.
The operation was coordinated by the Chadian government through its Consulate General in Benghazi in partnership with the IOM. Earlier this month, the organization also facilitated the return of 150 Gambian migrants and 182 Nigerian nationals from Libya.
The latest repatriations form part of a broader program that has been operating in Libya since 2015. According to the IOM, more than 100,000 migrants have voluntarily returned from Libya to countries across Africa and Asia since the launch of the initiative.
Libya remains one of the main transit countries for migrants seeking to reach Europe through the Mediterranean.
Many migrants travel to Libya from sub-Saharan Africa and other regions in search of better economic opportunities or to escape conflict, poverty, and instability.
The IOM estimates that more than 800,000 migrants were present in Libya in 2025, making the country one of the region’s largest migration hubs.
Sudanese nationals continue to represent the largest group of asylum seekers in Libya, driven by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
