On 1 June, the House of Representatives (HoR) issued a formal statement rejecting ‘settlement and resettlement’. It said that as ‘attempts to impose new realities that affect the national identity and demographic composition of the state are increasing’, the HoR is committed to protecting Libya’s sovereignty, preserving the will of its people, and maintaining its cultural and demographic identity. It said that based on the provisions of Law No. (24) of 2023 concerning combating the settlement of foreigners in Libya, the HoR declares ‘its firm national position rejecting any projects, policies, arrangements, or understandings, whether declared or undeclared, that would lead, directly or indirectly, to the settlement or naturalization of foreigners or cause any demographic change affecting the population composition of the Libyan state.’
The HoR added that the issue of irregular migration represents a complex challenge with security, humanitarian, and developmental dimensions. However, addressing it must be done within the framework of respecting national sovereignty and applying Libyan laws in a way that guarantees the protection of the interests of the Libyan state. The HoR also stressed that the national priority at this stage must be directed towards addressing the issues of the Libyan citizen, foremost among them providing suitable housing for young people, creating job opportunities, improving basic services, and addressing the economic and social repercussions of the crises the country has experienced, as these are urgent national obligations that take precedence over all other matters.
Also on 1 June, the High State Council (HSC) head Muhammed Takala met with the Presidential Council (PC) Deputy Abdullah al-Lafi and the head of the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) Abdullah Qaderbuh to discuss illegal immigration and the growing challenges it poses at the security, economic, and social levels. The attendees stressed the need to address this issue through a comprehensive national vision based on protecting national sovereignty and safeguarding the higher interests of the Libyan state.
Those present affirmed that addressing the phenomenon of illegal immigration requires the concerted efforts of all state institutions and the coordination of their positions through joint working mechanisms. The meeting also emphasized the categorical rejection of any arrangements, policies, or practices that could be understood or interpreted as the settlement of illegal immigrants within Libyan territory, given that this infringes upon the state’s sovereignty, demographic, and security considerations, and contradicts the aspirations of the Libyan people and their supreme national interests. In the same context, the participants discussed the issue of fuel and related phenomena such as smuggling and the depletion of public resources, stressing the importance of strengthening oversight and intensifying institutional efforts to protect public funds and safeguard the state’s assets.
On 2 June, the Minister of State for Prime Ministerial and Cabinet Affairs, Muhammed Ben Ghalbon chaired an expanded meeting with Minister of Interior Emad Trabelsi and several others on the issue of irregular migration. They discussed mechanisms to enhance coordination among the relevant authorities to control and regulate this issue, and to monitor the implementation of legal procedures related to irregular migrants, ensuring the application of existing laws and the maintenance of security and stability. They also assessed the conditions of detention centres and the procedures followed in dealing with violators within the established legal frameworks.