Libya Transfers 18 Nigerian Migrants from Sirte to Sabha for Repatriation

Migrants moved under tight security as Libya intensifies efforts to return undocumented nationals to their home countries.

Libyan authorities have relocated 18 undocumented Nigerian migrants from the Sirte Immigration Detention Center to the southern city of Sabha in preparation for their eventual repatriation.

The transfer, which took place on Monday, was carried out under the supervision of the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), according to a statement released by Migrant Rescue Watch, a humanitarian monitoring group. The migrants were transported in a security-controlled convoy by road, a move officials described as part of Libya’s ongoing efforts to manage irregular migration and facilitate the safe return of foreign nationals lacking proper documentation.

Libya has long been a major transit hub for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe, despite the country’s persistent political instability and conflict. Many of these migrants are intercepted and held in detention centers while awaiting deportation or repatriation.

In recent years, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has collaborated with Libyan authorities to arrange voluntary repatriation flights, providing stranded migrants with an alternative pathway to return home. The latest relocation of the Nigerian nationals is expected to lead to their inclusion in one of such repatriation programs.

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