Libya Expels Over 600 Nigeriens in Massive Desert Deportation
The expulsion marks one of the largest migrant deportations from Libya, fueling criticism over harsh EU border policies.
In a stark illustration of the perils facing migrants in North Africa, more than 600 Nigerien nationals have been forcibly deported from Libya, making the perilous journey across the Sahara Desert.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has confirmed that 613 individuals arrived in the desert town of Dirkou, Niger, last weekend, in what is reportedly one of the largest mass expulsions from Libya to date.
Rounded up by Libyan authorities over the past month, these migrants endured what has been described as a 'dangerous and traumatising' journey.
The expulsions, according to Azizou Chehou of Alarm Phone Sahara—a charity focused on migrant distress—signal new levels of forced movements, following a previous large deportation of 400 people last July.
This surge in expulsions coincides with heightened scrutiny of European Union border policies.
The EU and specific member states, like Italy, have been criticised for striking deals with North African countries including Libya and Tunisia, aimed at curbing the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.
Italy's interior ministry reported that 66,317 migrants reached Italy in 2024, indicating a significant reduction compared to 2023.
Critics argue that such EU policies have led to severe human rights abuses against migrants in Libya.
David Yambio, spokesperson for Refugees in Libya, opined that these actions reveal the EU's strategy of 'outsourcing mass expulsion and death to Libya'.
Yambio further denounced the European approach, which sees the desert as a graveyard where suffering is obscured from view.
According to Jalel Harchaoui, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and Libya expert, mass expulsions of foreign workers are not a new phenomenon in southern Libya, dating back to the Gaddafi era.
However, this incident stands out due to the sheer size of the group deported.
The expulsions appear to have been executed by local authorities, with no formal policy disclosed, but are embedded within rhetoric that demonises non-Libyans, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa.
Libya has historically been a destination for migrant workers from Niger, Mali, and Chad seeking employment in agriculture, construction, and other sectors.
Many also view Libya as a gateway to the European coast.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has stated the increase in expulsions from Libya and expressed its readiness to collaborate with the IOM in identifying and assisting individuals who require international protection.
As the international community keeps a close watch on these developments, these deportations underscore ongoing tensions around migration, human rights, and regional security within and beyond Africa.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has confirmed that 613 individuals arrived in the desert town of Dirkou, Niger, last weekend, in what is reportedly one of the largest mass expulsions from Libya to date.
Rounded up by Libyan authorities over the past month, these migrants endured what has been described as a 'dangerous and traumatising' journey.
The expulsions, according to Azizou Chehou of Alarm Phone Sahara—a charity focused on migrant distress—signal new levels of forced movements, following a previous large deportation of 400 people last July.
This surge in expulsions coincides with heightened scrutiny of European Union border policies.
The EU and specific member states, like Italy, have been criticised for striking deals with North African countries including Libya and Tunisia, aimed at curbing the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.
Italy's interior ministry reported that 66,317 migrants reached Italy in 2024, indicating a significant reduction compared to 2023.
Critics argue that such EU policies have led to severe human rights abuses against migrants in Libya.
David Yambio, spokesperson for Refugees in Libya, opined that these actions reveal the EU's strategy of 'outsourcing mass expulsion and death to Libya'.
Yambio further denounced the European approach, which sees the desert as a graveyard where suffering is obscured from view.
According to Jalel Harchaoui, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and Libya expert, mass expulsions of foreign workers are not a new phenomenon in southern Libya, dating back to the Gaddafi era.
However, this incident stands out due to the sheer size of the group deported.
The expulsions appear to have been executed by local authorities, with no formal policy disclosed, but are embedded within rhetoric that demonises non-Libyans, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa.
Libya has historically been a destination for migrant workers from Niger, Mali, and Chad seeking employment in agriculture, construction, and other sectors.
Many also view Libya as a gateway to the European coast.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has stated the increase in expulsions from Libya and expressed its readiness to collaborate with the IOM in identifying and assisting individuals who require international protection.
As the international community keeps a close watch on these developments, these deportations underscore ongoing tensions around migration, human rights, and regional security within and beyond Africa.
