Libya's Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi speaks at a press conference in Tripoli, Libya, on July 10, 2024. Al-Tarabelsi on Wednesday rejected calls to resettle migrants in the country, saying Libya is already grappling with a large number of undocumented foreigners. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)
TRIPOLI, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi on Wednesday rejected calls to resettle migrants in the country, saying Libya is already grappling with a large number of undocumented foreigners.
"Resettling migrants in Libya is rejected," al-Tarabelsi said in a press conference. "The number of foreigners currently in Libya is around 2.5 million, most of whom crossed the borders without entry visas."
The minister emphasized the need to secure Libya's southern borders, a key transit route for migrants, and announced the deployment of 5,000 additional police officers for border control.
Al-Tarabelsi urged the European Union to invest in development projects within Africa, aiming to address the root causes of migration. He also called on the international community to assist Libya in tackling the issue of illegal migration.
Libya has become a major transit point for migrants seeking to reach Europe since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, with the subsequent instability creating a haven for people smugglers.
Many migrants who tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea were intercepted by European maritime authorities and shipped back to Libya for "resettlement." ■
