The Minister of Interior has firmly rejected any international proposals aimed at resettling migrants within the country, saying Libya “is not a country for resettlement.”
Major General Imad Trabelsi made the comments during a high-level meeting on Monday with the EU Ambassador to Libya and diplomats from Italy, the UK, Malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Japan. Senior Libyan officials from the Ministry of Interior and immigration departments also attended.
“Our aim is to cooperate with international partners to ensure the dignified voluntary return of migrants,” Trabelsi said, adding that Libya seeks to regulate its labour market based on actual needs and within legal frameworks.
He revealed that the ministry had recently granted temporary residence permits to a number of foreign workers as part of a broader effort to formalise the labour sector and address legal uncertainties.
Trabelsi also noted that field surveys conducted by the ministry had found large numbers of migrants stranded in Libya who expressed a willingness to return to their home countries. This, he said, required greater coordination with countries of origin and international organisations.
The Minister said Libya is open to cooperation in the field of training, particularly for police and security forces dealing with irregular migration. He stressed the need for a professional and rights-based approach to handling a “sensitive issue.”
Discussions during the meeting focused on voluntary repatriation and the growing burden of irregular migration on Libya’s security, economy, and public services.
Concluding the meeting, Trabelsi called for stronger international support—particularly from the European Union—to help facilitate voluntary returns and implement a legal framework for migration. He stressed that such efforts must respect Libyan sovereignty and contribute to regional stability.
