Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has successfully repatriated 131 of its citizens from Libya following coordinated diplomatic efforts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday. Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs, Ambassador Haddad Abdel-Tawab El-Gohary, received the returnees upon their arrival from Tripoli, marking the latest step in an ongoing campaign to secure the release and safe return of Egyptian nationals detained abroad.
The operation was carried out after intensive coordination between the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli, Libyan authorities, and relevant departments within Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. The move comes in line with directives from Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty, who has placed high priority on the repatriation of Egyptians held overseas and on ensuring their rapid and secure return.
According to El-Gohary, the total number of Egyptians brought back from Tripoli and western Libya since the beginning of the year has reached 1,132. An additional 1,500 citizens have been repatriated from Benghazi and eastern Libya over the same period, reflecting an expanded and systematic effort to address the challenges faced by Egyptians in the conflict-affected neighboring country.
In its statement, the Foreign Ministry urged citizens to adhere strictly to legal and regulated travel procedures, warning of the severe risks associated with irregular migration networks, which often expose migrants to exploitation, detention, and life-threatening dangers.
Libya has continued to deport irregular migrants amid heightened enforcement measures by its anti-migration authorities. In August 2025, Libyan authorities expelled 103 undocumented Egyptian migrants, according to local media reports. The Libyan Anti-Illegal Migration Authority in Al-Batnan confirmed that the individuals were repatriated through the Emsaed land crossing after all legal procedures were completed. The agency emphasized that deportation operations are ongoing and are carried out with strict discipline and preparedness.
Officials noted that these efforts align with directives issued by Major General Salah Mahmoud Al-Khweifi, head of Libya’s Anti-Illegal Migration Authority, who has instructed all branches to intensify operations aimed at reducing irregular migration and strengthening security within and around urban centers.
Over the past several years, Libya has become a major transit hub for irregular migration toward Europe. Migrants—many of them from sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly including Egyptians—seek better lives across the Mediterranean, contributing to growing concerns among European governments over rising arrivals from Libyan shores.
Egypt’s stepped-up repatriation operations reflect both humanitarian considerations and an effort to curb the dangers associated with illegal migration, as the country works to ensure the safety of its citizens abroad amid persistent regional instability.
