Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a major effort to secure the release and repatriation of hundreds of Egyptian citizens detained in Libya over illegal migration-related offenses, as authorities continue to battle the growing dangers of human smuggling networks operating across the Mediterranean region.
According to an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad successfully coordinated the release of 508 Egyptian nationals who had been held in Tripoli between January and the end of April 2026. The ministry confirmed that all of them were safely returned to Egypt in cooperation with Libyan authorities.
In a parallel operation, Egyptian diplomatic efforts also secured the release and repatriation of another 871 citizens detained in Benghazi during the same period after becoming involved in illegal migration attempts.
The large-scale repatriation highlights the continuing humanitarian and security challenges surrounding irregular migration routes used by thousands seeking passage to Europe through neighboring countries, particularly Libya, which remains a major transit hub for migrant smuggling operations.
Egyptian authorities also revealed the devastating human cost tied to these dangerous journeys. The ministry said it continued to monitor incidents involving migrant boats carrying Egyptian nationals that sank off regional coastlines.
Between January and April 2026, Egyptian authorities coordinated the return of 94 bodies of citizens who died during illegal migration attempts. In addition, the remains of five more Egyptians discovered off the Tunisian coast were identified through DNA testing and repatriated to their families.
The ministry renewed its warning to Egyptian citizens against falling victim to what it described as the “illusion” of illegal migration or dealing with smuggling gangs that exploit vulnerable individuals seeking work opportunities abroad.
Officials stressed the importance of respecting legal entry procedures into neighboring countries, including obtaining valid visas and documented employment contracts, warning that irregular migration continues to expose thousands to detention, exploitation, trafficking networks, and death at sea.
The latest figures underline the scale of the crisis facing Egyptian authorities as they intensify diplomatic coordination with regional governments to contain illegal migration flows while attempting to dismantle transnational smuggling networks operating across North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Despite repeated tragedies and growing crackdowns, Libya remains one of the primary departure points for migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings toward Europe, with Egyptian citizens continuing to make up a significant portion of those intercepted or rescued along the route.
