Libya: 170 Senegalese migrants repatriated

After the wave of Nigerians this week, 170 Senegalese migrants who were in detention centres in Tripoli have been sent back to their country.

The group made up entirely of men took the plane early on Thursday at the Mitiga airport east of Tripoli within the framework of a repatriation programme supervised by the International Organisation for Migration.

“There was coordination with the immigration authorities and the anti-migration centres at Tariq Al-Shuk, the airport road and As-saka so as to help the 170 Senegalese migrants. in their voluntary return to their country – -through a direct flight from Tripoli to Dakar,” Juma Ben Hassan, an International Organisation for Migration official said.

The Europeans are considering measures to block the arrival of thousands of migrants from Libya. These measures alarm NGOs which fear ill treatment against the illegal immigrants who would remain blocked in Libya.

In the absence of army officials or regular police, several militia are acting as coast guards and are often accused of involvement in human trafficking.