Italian minister: Libya remains key partner in migration control
An Italian minister has reiterated the central role Libya plays in limiting irregular migration flows from Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean, according to the Libya Review on October 30th.
Speaking to Il Mattino newspaper, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi emphasised that the Memorandum of Understanding on Migration Cooperation (MoU) between Rome and Tripoli is an “essential tool” in Italy’s aim to smother migrant trafficking networks and prevent departures from the Libyan coast.
He added that most of the Italian government’s migration policies fall under the agreement, which helps optimise its effectiveness and ensures that it serves the core goal of protecting human rights. Piantedosi stated that stopping often fatal voyages across the Mediterranean sea organised by illicit smugglers “is precisely what it means to protect human rights.”
He recognised that managing migration can be a complex and challenging task but revealed that collaboration with Libya is ongoing and should be used as a model example for agreements with other African nations “based on mutual respect.”
“We want to turn routes of death into routes of life” he continued. “We already have examples of success. Agreements signed with countries such as Côte d’Ivoire have significantly reduced irregular arrivals while creating legal pathways for employment. We have done this in Southeast Asia and intend to replicate it with other key African countries.”
Piantedosi’s humanitarian-packed words ring hollow, however, when taking a closer look at the systems put in place by the MoU, alongside the conduct of key migration control partners.
Under the agreement, the Italian government trains and funds the Libyan coast guard, which has been accused of abuses against migrants, as well as habitually opening fire, with live rounds, on charity vessels seeking to prevent migrant deaths at sea.
Furthermore, the coast guard has the power to intercept and return migrants to detention centres in Libya, where they face inhumane living conditions, torture, rape, and forced labour.
Italy’s determination to deter migration stems from it being one of the most frequent migrant destinations in Europe. According to the Mixed Migration Centre’s North Africa quarterly update, Italy has recorded 49,799 irregular migrant arrivals so far in 2025.
On four separate boats, 368 migrants disembarked on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa during the night between October 15th and 16th alone, according to InfoMigrants on October 20th.
The frequency of migrant arrivals in Italy will likely drive the government to renew the MoU, which will automatically occur on November 2nd if neither party pulls out.
Piantedosi’s remarks certainly signal that the renewal will go ahead, and his sentiment is broadly shared in the Italian parliament, with its lower house recently passing a motion which calls on the government to renew the MoU.
Libya Review, Mixed Migration Centre, Maghrebi.org, InfoMigrants
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