Libya’s Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency in Benghazi announced the deportation of 136 Bangladeshi migrants, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The migrants departed on a flight from Benina International Airport to Dhaka International Airport in Bangladesh this Wednesday, according to the agency’s statement on its Facebook page.
The move comes as part of Libya’s ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration. Just a day prior, on Tuesday, the Ministry of Interior’s Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency revealed that around a thousand migrants who had entered the country illegally were repatriated to Egypt and Nigeria.
This significant operation involved the deportation of 964 migrants, comprising 664 Egyptians and 300 Nigerians.
This action reflects Libya’s commitment to managing immigration effectively and cooperatively with international organizations and neighboring countries.
The repatriation of migrants is part of a broader strategy to ensure legal and orderly migration, while also addressing the challenges posed by illegal immigration in the region.
Italy’s government has acknowledged that it is facing “obstacles” in its dealings with Libya to stop the flow of irregular migration from its shores to Italy’s southern shores, despite logistical support from Rome to boost the capabilities of the Libyan coast guard.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio described the management of dialogue with the Libyans in this area as “difficult” as “there are still departure operations” from its shores towards Italian waters.
Di Maio pointed out that “in Sfax, there are about 5,000 migrants who want to sail, but the Tunisian police are working to stop them,” acknowledging that there are “obstacles” with Libya to stop the operations of migrants leaving its shores, despite the Italian government’s work to “strengthen the ability of the Libyan authorities to intervene and rescue at sea by also benefiting from the European support program.”
His remarks came during a hearing before the parliamentary committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Schengen Agreement.
