Benghazi-based Libyan authorities deport over 117,000 irregular migrants

Libyan authorities based in Benghazi have deported at least 117,350 irregular migrants of various nationalities, while over 100,000 Sudanese have registered for a voluntary return programme, the government administering the east and most of the south and appointed by Libya’s House of Representatives said on Monday.

The government’s head Osama Hammad described irregular migration as a matter of national sovereignty and security, calling for tighter border controls, stronger action against human trafficking networks and closer coordination among state institutions, according to a statement.

It said that humanitarian flights have already begun returning Sudanese nationals who enrolled in the voluntary return programme.

It also unveiled a package of measures to tighten migration controls, including stricter border security, new residency regulations for foreign nationals, extending the deadline for regularising the status of foreign workers until the end of 2026, and expanding cooperation with international organisations on voluntary return programmes.