Libya, EU form ‘working group’ to end African irregular migration

Tripoli, Libya — AFP

Libya along with European and African countries agreed Wednesday to establish investment projects in Africa aiming to curb irregular migration to Europe, during an international forum on migration.

Participating countries agreed to form a “working group” that would “identify priority development projects in African countries that are the source of migration”, Libyan Communication Minister Walid Ellafi said.

Earlier in the day, Libyan Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah said Libya has “a moral responsibility” towards the mainly sub-Saharan African migrants “who cross the desert and the sea” hoping to reach Europe.

Libya, about 300 kilometres from Italy, is a key departure point for migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan African countries, risking perilous Mediterranean Sea journeys to seek better lives in Europe.

But with mounting efforts by the European Union to curb irregular migration, many have found themselves stranded in Libya and other North African countries.

“Libya found itself caught in pressure between (Europe’s) turning back of migrants and (their) desire to migrate,” said Dbeibah.

“We can only resolve the migration crisis at the root, in the countries of departure,” he said.

Libya is still struggling to recover from years of war and chaos after the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Smugglers and human traffickers have taken advantage of the climate of instability that has dominated the vast country since.

The country has been criticised over the treatment of migrant and refugees, with accusations from rights groups ranging from extortion to slavery.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Wednesday’s forum called for an end to “human trafficking… (which) is nowadays one of world’s most powerful criminal networks”.

The far-right minister denounced “criminal organisations” that “decide who has the right or not to live in our countries”, adding that “illegal migration is the enemy of legal migration”.

Italy recorded 30,348 migrant arrivals from North Africa between January 1 and July 16 — a 61-percent decrease in a year — with 17,659 people leaving from Libya and 11,001 from Tunisia, according to official figures.