Egypt (Washington Insider) – Egypt has repatriated 2,635
citizens from Libya in 2025, including 1,132 from Tripoli and 1,500 from
Benghazi; the Foreign Ministry coordinates with Libyan authorities after 14
deaths on a migrant boat.
As Africa News reported, Egypt has repatriated 2,635 of its
citizens from Libya since the beginning of 2025, the Foreign Ministry said on
Monday, Dec 22, 2025. Among them, 1,132 were returned from Tripoli and western
Libya, while over 1,500 came from Benghazi and eastern Libya.
The ministry said the effort is part of Egypt’s ongoing
program to protect its citizens abroad. It added that the operation required
close coordination with Libyan authorities. Families of missing or detained
Egyptians provided information that helped locate and safely bring back their
relatives.
How is Egypt
protecting its citizens amid the Libyan migration risks?
The ministry said the repatriation is part of a broader plan
to support
citizens reported missing, detained, or in danger. Egyptian diplomatic and
consular teams remain active to provide immediate assistance in emergencies.
Officials said the cooperation with Libyan authorities is important to protect
citizens in unstable areas.
Officials mentioned that Libya remains a major departure
point for migrants trying to reach Europe each year. Egypt has strengthened its
national strategy to prevent its land from being used as a transit route for
irregular migration.
Since the ousting of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya
has become a primary staging ground for people fleeing toward Europe; there has
been remarkable instability within that country due to a lack of political
structure and poor security, which has permitted numerous criminal
organisations to form.
Thousands of illegals, mostly Egyptian, have attempted to
cross this dangerous route; they travel aboard very poor-quality and
overcrowded vessels.
Egypt has implemented measures aimed at reducing illegal
immigration by implementing a national strategy in 2017 designed specifically
to prevent the utilisation of its land as a passageway for migrants. The
dangers associated with such crossings were highlighted last week when, on
December 14, 2025, 14 people perished when their boat capsized en route to
Greece from Libya.
