UN mission in Libya rejects migrant resettlement claims amid largest anti-migrant protest in Tripoli

Hundreds of Libyans gathered outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) headquarters in Tripoli on Thursday, calling for the closure of the facility and chanting slogans such as “Libya belongs to Libyans.” The demonstration, described as the largest of several recent anti-migrant protests in the North African nation, involved demonstrators erecting tents and blocking the main gate with a barrier made of sand.

Protesters carried signs reading “Our love for our country is not racism” and “Libya is not the world’s garbage bin,” while accusing the UN of attempting to settle undocumented migrants within the country. The unrest reflects growing public frustration amid 15 years of conflict and political division, during which social and economic problems have become increasingly visible. Many citizens are beginning to blame migrant populations for these ongoing challenges.

In response to the allegations, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued a statement on Thursday explicitly denying that any resettlement programmes are being implemented. The mission characterised claims to the contrary as “completely unhealthy” and warned that the spread of misleading information and hate speech contributes to increased tensions and incitement against UN officials.

UNSMIL affirmed the rights of all Libyans to express their opinions but condemned any incitement of violence, threats, or vandalism targeting UN staff and property. The mission clarified that the UN High Commission for Refugees Affairs is working to find solutions outside Libya, including evacuation to third countries or voluntary return, rather than local settlement.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that Libya hosts approximately 900,000 migrants, including many Sudanese refugees fleeing civil war in their home country. With a total population of about 7 million, Libya has served as a transit route for hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing conflict and poverty since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011.