شاشة عرض مغناطيسية لصور السيلفي
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Libya's State Council Denies Migrant Settlement Plans, Vows to Protect Demographic Integrity
TRIPOLI — Libya's High Council of State has categorically rejected reports of any attempt to naturalize or permanently settle migrants within the country, declaring such moves a threat to national sovereignty and demographic stability. The council's statement, issued Thursday, comes amid growing political tension over migration policy and institutional legitimacy.
The council's media office released a formal declaration affirming "absolute refusal of any attempt to settle migrants inside Libya." The statement warned against "naturalizing foreigners or causing demographic change in the country," framing the issue as a matter of existential national security.
Political Context and Institutional Rivalry
The announcement follows a consultative session held Wednesday in Tripoli, where Khalid Al-Mishri — whose presidency of the council remains disputed — met with approximately 50 council members. Participants discussed both initiatives to unify the fractured legislative body and mounting concerns over foreign settlement policies.
Al-Mishri's leadership has been contested since Mohamed Takala's election as council president in August 2023, creating a dual-authority crisis that has paralyzed legislative functions. Wednesday's gathering represented a rare show of consensus among members across the divide.
"We will not allow Libya to become a final destination for irregular migration," said a council member who attended the session, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations. "Our geography makes us a transit country, not a settlement country."
Libya has long served as a primary departure point for migrants attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Europe. The North African nation hosts an estimated 700,000 migrants and refugees, according to International Organization for Migration data, most living in precarious conditions without legal protections.
European Union pressure to stem migration flows has intensified in recent years, with Brussels offering development aid and border management support in exchange for stricter enforcement. Critics argue such arrangements risk transforming Libya into a de facto holding zone for asylum seekers.
The council's statement did not specify which actors allegedly proposed settlement plans. However, diplomatic sources suggest the declaration may respond to quiet discussions within international forums about burden-sharing mechanisms that could include localized integration programs.
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's Government of National Unity has not issued a formal response. The GNU, based in Tripoli, relies on the council's consultative approval for key decisions but has frequently clashed with the body over legislative authority.
Analysts view the council's hardline stance as both a genuine policy position and a political maneuver to assert relevance amid its leadership crisis. "By championing the migration issue, the council positions itself as the defender of national sovereignty," said Jalel Harchaoui, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "It's a rare issue that unites rival factions."
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has consistently advocated for a comprehensive migration framework aligned with international human rights standards. Stephanie Khoury, acting head of UNSMIL, emphasized last month that "migration governance requires legislative clarity and institutional coherence — both currently lacking."
Libya's 2011 uprising and subsequent fragmentation left the country without a unified immigration law. Competing authorities in Tripoli and Benghazi maintain separate security apparatuses, creating enforcement gaps exploited by trafficking networks.
The council pledged to "monitor any suspicious movements" regarding migrant status changes and called on all state institutions to "uphold their national responsibilities." No timeline was given for legislative action.
— LibyaPress / Libya Desk
