The Minister of Interior in Libya's Government of National Unity, Imad Al-Tarabulsi, warned against attempts by non-governmental organizations to settle irregular migrants in Libya. Al-Tarabulsi issued this warning during a joint press conference with the Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid Al-Lafi, regarding the upcoming Mediterranean Migration Forum set to take place on July 17 in the capital, Tripoli. He stated, "There are social and political burdens that may result for the country due to these plans."
He said, "Some NGOs seek to turn Libya into a third country, so that migrants who fail to reach Europe are settled here, thus burdening Libya with the social and political costs." He noted that "the city of Kufra alone hosts around 20,000 migrants, a number that matches or exceeds the city's population." Al-Tarabulsi clarified, "We do not oppose the presence of our Sudanese brothers, who have been forced to migrate due to war in their country, but we are discussing the issue on a broader scale."
He also explained that "most cases of forgery in the national number file concern individuals from African and East Asian nationalities," asserting that "this file is extremely complicated." He added, "Drug trafficking, such as pills and cocaine, is closely linked to irregular migration transport journeys, which also contributes to the spread of magic and sorcery in the country." Al-Tarabulsi emphasized the "necessity of addressing these issues firmly," calling on the international community to take responsibility regarding the irregular migration crisis.
