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.