Libya pushes for national migration body

The Libyan Organization for Human Rights (LOHR) called for the creation of a national body to manage migration and asylum, arguing that the issue has become a sovereign matter linked to security and social stability, as reported by the Libyan News Agency on June 3rd.

Hanan Al-Sharif, head of the organisation, said Libya needs clearer national management of migration based on existing legislation and respect for state sovereignty, her statement comes with growing debate over the presence of migrants and refugees in Libya and the role of international organisations operating in the country.

Al-Sharif claimed that the activities of the UNHCR in Libya were initially tied to exceptional humanitarian circumstances and specific asylum cases but that the expansion of its work in recent years requires legal and regulatory review by the relevant authorities.

The proposed body would be responsible for managing migration and asylum files in a way that balances protection needs with Libya’s national interests.

The statement also comes as the Tripoli based movement “No to Settlement, No to Resettlement” called for stronger national procedures regulating migration, the group based its position around sovereignty and security, arguing that Libya needs clearer policies to deal with the social, economic and security challenges created by irregular migration.

UNHCR responded by stressing that its work in Libya is limited to humanitarian and technical support in coordination with Libyan authorities as it does not implement programmes to resettle migrants inside Libya and has no sovereign powers over migration management.

The agency also clarified that refugee registration does not affect the Libyan state’s authority over foreign nationals, adding that its activities focus on basic assistance and protection for people in need of international protection while seeking solutions outside Libya.

The debate shows how migration is an issue that goes beyond border control becoming a question of institutional authority as Libya wants stronger national ownership while international agencies insist their role remains humanitarian and non sovereign by implementing conflicting actions.

Libyan News Agency, Maghrebi.org