Over the last couple of weeks, an anti-foreigner, anti-migrant campaign has been gathering some momentum on Libya social media, with calls for all migrants and foreigners to leave Libya by 1 October.
Posts for the campaign indicate that Libyans are giving illegal migrants the final deadline of 1 October to leave the country, warning that Libyan politicians and militias are mobilizing their youth and security forces to force all migrants to leave Libya. Many posts are using increasingly hostile and violent language and imagery including explicit threats of violence, the use of weapons, and the targeting of ‘Black migrants’ in several areas of Tripoli.
Figures linked to the ‘No to Resettlement’ campaign have issued announcements about planned action on 1 October against migrants.
Posts purporting to be from the UNHCR warn migrants and refugees who do not have valid documents to leave the country by 1 October, warning that ‘remaining in Libya may expose individuals to serious risks to their safety.’