Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Libya Calls for Regional Mechanisms to Combat Smuggling, Illegal Migration


Sun 09 May 2021 | 05:12 PM
H-Tayea

On Sunday, the Libyan Foreign Minister, Najla Al-Mangoush, called on the neighboring countries to urgently form regional mechanisms to combat smuggling, illegal migration, and human trafficking.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that, Al-Mangoush will visit countries of origin for immigration in order to coordinate on returning their citizens.

"We wish stability for Chad, according to what its people decide, what achieves their aspirations, and by peaceful means," Al-Mangoush said during a tour to the common borders with Niger, according to the Ministry's statement.

She explained that she would submit to the Libyan House of Representatives a bill that would tighten penalties for smugglers and human traffickers.

"In Libya, we have suffered greatly from the armed groups crossing our borders and being employed from the Libyan parties to the conflict. We have repeatedly called on our neighboring countries to help us and reach solutions that protect us and protect them from the war."

She also reiterated calls for the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries. She also urged for a timetable put by Libya's 5+5 Joint Military Commission under the supervision of the United Nations.

The Minister also made it clear during her speech that the Libyans "will not act as guards for the borders of Europe," adding that, Libya will not be a transit point for suffering and persecution against our African brothers," she noted.

Al-Manqoush called on European countries to adhere to and fulfill their agreements signed with Libya, especially since Libya has assets close to half a billion dollars allocated to protect the borders.