Panafrican News Agency

Libya works with AU, EU and UN on mechanisms to combat migration

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's interim Minister of the Interior, General Imad Mustafa Trabelsi, has discussed with the Tripartite Working Group of the African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) working mechanisms to combat migration between Libya and countries of these organizations.

This issue was raised at a meeting held on Sunday in Tripoli between General Trabelsi and the Tripartite Working Group represented by the ambassadors of the African Union and the European Union, and the Deputy Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs in Libya.

The meeting was also attended by the Libyan Ministers of Justice, Halima al-Bousaifi, and Social Affairs, Wafa al-Kilani, and the Minister of Labour Management at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, al-Taher al-Baour, according to a statement from the Ministry.

At the start of the meeting, the acting Minister of the Interior welcomed the participants, stressing the importance of working and cooperating with the Libyan Supreme Committee for the Supervision of Illegal Immigration and Borders.

During the meeting, the participants discussed building communication bridges through the official channels of the Libyan State and the Supreme Committee on this issue, and supporting the voluntary repatriation of migrants.

They also discussed with the agencies responsible for securing the borders to limit the flow of migrants from the countries of origin, considering Libya to be a country of transit and not of destination for migrants.

In recent years, Libya has had to cope with large waves of migrants, some of whom have fallen victim to networks of smugglers, traffickers and human traffickers.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/SOC/BBA/RA 1April2024