Libyan authorities deported 177 Nigerian migrants on Tuesday as part of a voluntary repatriation program, officials confirmed.
The group, mostly women, was flown out of Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport under the supervision of the country’s Illegal Migration Control Department.
Deportation officer Mohamed Bred’a stated that the group included nine children and eight infants. He added that more repatriation flights were planned throughout the week and that the process would continue as part of Libya’s ongoing efforts to manage migration.
Libya has long been a major transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe, especially after the country fell into turmoil following the 2011 ousting of Muammar Gaddafi. Many migrants remain stranded in Libya, facing harsh conditions in detention centers.
On Monday, Libyan Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi called on the European Union and other affected nations to provide more support in controlling migration. He emphasized that securing Libya’s southern borders was key to addressing the crisis, rather than focusing only on coastal patrols.
Al-Tarabelsi also urged international partners to invest in development projects in migrants’ home countries, arguing that economic hardship is a major driver of migration.