Libya’s Interior Minister Emad Al-Trabelsi reported 4 million illegal immigrants in the country, stressing the need for international support and rejecting Libya as a resettlement zone. He highlighted securing southern borders as critical to addressing the immigration crisis and called for contributions from EU nations to enhance monitoring and deportation efforts.
Emad Al-Trabelsi, Libya’s Minister of Interior, stated that the nation is hosting 4 million illegal immigrants. In a meeting at the Ministry of Interior, he emphasized that Libya cannot shoulder this burden alone amid existing security and economic challenges. Attendees included EU and African Union representatives and officials from the International Organization for Migration and UNHCR.
Al-Trabelsi highlighted that the multitude of crises in Libya has exacerbated the situation. He asserted that this immigration issue represents serious security and economic threats, warning that unchecked immigration could worsen conditions both in Libya and the surrounding region.
The Minister insisted that Libya will not accept becoming a resettlement area for illegal immigrants, affirming that national security and sovereignty are top priorities. Al-Trabelsi suggested that to effectively address illegal immigration, securing Libya’s southern borders should be prioritized over coastal monitoring that the EU currently favors.
He urged EU and other nations to take responsibility by enhancing security at Libya’s southern borders. Al-Trabelsi called for the provision of modern surveillance technology, faster voluntary deportation processes for illegal immigrants, and stringent actions against human trafficking and smuggling operations, targeting criminal networks directly.
Libya faces significant challenges with 4 million illegal immigrants currently within its borders. Minister Emad Al-Trabelsi emphasizes that Libya cannot manage this issue alone and rejects the notion of becoming a resettlement hub. He advocates for secure southern borders and calls on international cooperation to mitigate the immigration crisis through enhanced security and combating organized crime.
Original Source: libyaobserver.ly
