Osama Hammad, the appointed head of the government by Libya’s House of Representatives, stated that illegal immigration is linked to various crimes and violations, either by smuggling gangs or human traffickers.
Speaking at the African-European Conference on Migration, Hammad highlighted that these criminal groups exploit illegal migration routes for smuggling prohibited items and members of terrorist groups, disguising them as migrants.
Hammad mentioned that Libya and other North African countries serve as transit points for illegal migrants and asylum seekers aiming for Southern European countries.
Libya plans to launch numerous security campaigns aimed at protecting these vulnerable individuals and freeing them from the clutches of criminal gangs.
Hammad added that there is a challenging balance between the right of all countries to protect their internal security and regulate entry and exit procedures, and the obligations imposed by international charters, treaties, and protocols.
Often, this balance leads some countries to compromise these human rights in order to control the flow of illegal migration into their territories, which necessitates a suite of solutions and pathways that ensure safe and regular migration.
Hammad called on all parties to refrain from interfering in the political and internal affairs of African source countries, as such interventions sometimes lead to political instability and internal conflicts, as seen in Sudan.
He noted that addressing the migration issue requires urgent solutions such as supporting and enhancing the capacities of law enforcement agencies in source and transit countries to deal with human smuggling and trafficking gangs.
The head of the appointed government stated that they are ready to fully cooperate and support all solutions and pathways concerning illegal migration issues.
He emphasized that solutions must be adopted by source, transit, and destination countries and that development programs in source countries are crucial to provide a secure and stable life to avoid the option of migration.
