Over the last week, the Government of National Unity (GNU) has participated in several international and regional meetings and forums focused on tackling illegal migration through Africa and the Mediterranean.
On 8 April, the President of Chad Mahamat Idriss Déby received a Libyan delegation led by GNU Minister of Transportation (and PM Dabaiba’s close advisor) Muhammed al-Shahoubi and Deputy Minister of Defence for Regions and Military Affairs BG Abdussalam Zoubi in N’Djamena, Chad. The discussions focused on issues of mutual interests, including resuming direct flights, boosting bilateral trade, securing the common border area, and addressing the status of undocumented Chadians in Libya. Key outcomes included proposals for establishing a joint military force (!), (re-)activating previous agreements, and ensuring the repatriation of Chadians from Libya. Both sides expressed their readiness to continue consultations and visits to enhance bilateral cooperation. According to al Shahoubi, relations between Chad and Libya are on the verge of significant progress as a result of a shared commitment to mutual benefit and broader regional stability.
On 9 April, GNU Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation Ali al-Abed participated in a ministerial meeting of the Khartoum Process in Cairo. The minister highlighted the significant challenges Libya faces due to migration flows, putting pressure on limited resources and infrastructure. He reaffirmed Libya’s commitment to its humanitarian and legal responsibilities and its pursuit of balanced policies based on shared interests and international cooperation. Al-Abed emphasized the need for international cooperation to combat human trafficking, improve development in countries of origin, and ease migration pressures. He called for a comprehensive and integrated approach to tackle irregular migration from Africa to Europe, focusing on root causes like conflicts and instability. The session concluded with the adoption of the ‘Cairo Action Plan’ to strengthen these efforts.