An official from the Tripoli-based government informed AFP on Monday that Libya has initiated the repatriation of approximately 600 undocumented Egyptian migrants back to their homeland.
Mohamad Bardaa, the Deputy for Security Affairs at the Directorate of Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM), informed media that the expulsion of 600 Egyptian nationals who entered Libya illegally commenced today.
The migrants were being transported by buses back to the Egyptian border, passing through territory controlled by a competing administration in the eastern region.
Numerous Egyptians transit through Libya in their endeavors to reach Europe, while a significant number have resided there for extended periods, with many employed in agriculture, construction, and various sectors, notably in and around the capital.
Following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya became fragmented, with competing authorities established in the eastern and western regions.
Until a recent point in time, United Nations agencies held the responsibility for facilitating the repatriation of refugees and migrants within Libya.
However, subsequent to a recent accord reached between the two administrations in Libya, the Directorate of Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM), affiliated with the interior ministry of the western government, assumed authority over deportations.
The North African nation has also become a focal point for tens of thousands of migrants annually striving to reach Europe by sea.
In June, Libyan media aired unverified footage that depicted nearly 1,000 Egyptians being escorted by soldiers and compelled to traverse on foot to reach the Egyptian border.
As per the United Nations International Organization for Migration, over 700,000 migrants were recorded on Libyan soil between May and June of this year.
