Libya: UNSMIL rejects migrant resettlement claims

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has sought to calm growing tensions surrounding migration after anti-migrant protests in Tripoli on June 3rd, firmly rejecting claims that international organisations are implementing programmes aimed at permanently resettling migrants in Libya.

According to the Libya Observer on June 6th, in a statement published on June 5th, UNSMIL dismissed allegations circulating on social media and during recent demonstrations, stressing that neither the UN nor its agencies are pursuing plans to settle migrants or refugees in the country.

The mission reiterated that its activities remain focused on humanitarian assistance and the protection of vulnerable populations, while respecting Libya’s sovereignty and national institutions.

Anti-migrant sentiment has surged across Libya, with hundreds of protesters gathered in Tripoli demanding an end to what they perceived as efforts to transform Libya into a destination country for migrants.

Demonstrators accused international organisations of facilitating migrant settlement and called for stronger measures to limit the presence of foreign nationals in the country.

For years, European governments have relied on Libyan authorities to curb departures across the central Mediterranean through financial assistance, training programmes, maritime cooperation, and border management initiatives.

European actors are expanding cooperation with eastern Libyan authorities linked to Khalifa Haftar, a development that could significantly reshape the country’s migration governance landscape.

Against this backdrop, authorities in eastern Libya appear eager to demonstrate their capacity to manage migration flows.

According to Libya Review on June 6th, Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and son of Khalifa Haftar, recently instructed authorities in Derna to improve assistance and services provided to migrants.

The move was presented as part of efforts to ensure humanitarian treatment and strengthen local management of migrant populations in areas under eastern administration.

Migration is increasingly becoming a key arena through which Libya’s rival political and military actors seek international recognition.

On June 3rd, authorities in Tripoli announced plans to establish a national migration body to coordinate policy and strengthen state oversight; eastern institutions are also seeking to demonstrate administrative capacity and operational effectiveness.

Yet the growing involvement of both western and eastern authorities in migration management has done little to ease public concerns.

Across Libya, migration is increasingly framed not only as a humanitarian issue but also as a matter of sovereignty, security, and demographic change.

As cooperation between Brussels and eastern Libyan authorities expands, migration is becoming a strategic instrument through which domestic actors seek influence, legitimacy, and international partnerships.

Libya Observer; Libya Review; UNSMIL; Maghrebi.org