Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has announced that several hundred of its nationals currently detained in Libya are expected to be released and deported home in the coming period, as officials respond to growing pressure from families searching for missing relatives. The move highlights Cairo’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to protect its citizens abroad, even as the region faces heightened instability.
Speaking at a meeting with over 200 families of Egyptians reported missing in Libya, Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Haddad El-Gohary said that Egypt’s consulate in Benghazi and its embassy in Tripoli are actively following up on reports from Libyan detention facilities. He confirmed that procedures are underway to secure the release of detainees and regularize their legal status prior to deportation, though he did not provide a precise timeline.
“Families must rely solely on official channels to obtain information,” El-Gohary said, warning against unofficial intermediaries who demand money in exchange for information about detainees, many of which prove fraudulent. He urged families to pursue legal action against brokers, smugglers, and trafficking networks that endanger lives while profiting from irregular migration.
Egypt’s diplomatic interventions in Libya have already facilitated the deportation of more than 3,000 nationals accused of irregular migration in 2025 alone, with over 1,200 detainees released from Libyan prisons during the same period. The country has also repatriated more than 300 bodies at state expense following the sinking of migrant vessels off Libya’s coast, tragedies linked to the dangerous North African migration route toward Europe.
The ministry reiterated its longstanding message that Egyptians seeking work abroad should use legal channels, including official visas and documented employment contracts, to minimize the risk of detention or disappearance. Since launching a national strategy to curb irregular migration in 2016, Egypt says no migrant boats have departed its shores for Europe, despite hosting more than 10 million foreigners, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from over 130 countries.
The announcement comes as regional instability continues to impact Egyptian nationals. In neighboring Yemen, Saudi-backed forces have advanced in the resource-rich Hadramawt province, clashing with UAE-backed separatists in a conflict that has deepened divisions among Gulf-backed factions. In Yemen’s south, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) is pursuing independence from the internationally recognized government, while Saudi and Emirati interests increasingly clash, raising concerns about civilian safety and the movement of foreign nationals.
These developments underscore the broader challenges facing Egyptians abroad in a region where political rivalries, armed conflict, and irregular migration intersect. Officials say ongoing consular support and diplomatic engagement remain critical to ensuring the safety of citizens while urging compliance with legal migration pathways.
