Libya has rejected an EU plan to establish refugee and migrant processing centres in the country, adding that it would not be swayed by any financial inducements to change its decision. The formal rejection by the Libyan prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, is a blow to Italy, which is regarded..
Libya has rejected an EU plan to establish refugee and migrant processing centres in the country, adding that it would not be swayed by any financial inducements to change its decision.
The formal rejection by the Libyan prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, is a blow to Italy, which is regarded as being close to his Tripoli administration.
Background
The migrant influx from Libya has come amidst political instability and large-scale political fringe groups each looking towards their claim over the land once ruled by the dictatorial Gaddafi regime. The presence of local militia in high numbers reduces the effectiveness and outreach of the United Nations-backed National Accord Government that aims to restabilize, reintegrate and regenerate Libya.
In light of the growing influx of refugees seeking to find their way towards European soil, some countries have opened up their borders to welcome those fleeing unstable home countries, others have made it harder by raising the threshold that would deem them eligible for the status of asylum. Regardless, migrants continue to flee towards European soil as instability back home is rising at an alarming degree and the threat to life remains unabated, due to the continued presence of extremists and non-state actors.
In response, the EU has come up with ‘regional dismemberment platforms’ in North African regions where the UN and other agencies could screen those with a genuine claim towards asylum and ascertain those that are not eligible for shelter.
Analysis
Mohamed Taher Siala, Minister for Foreign Affairs Libya, in the Government of National Accord made a statement on the 19th of October, 2018 opposing the European proposal of setting up ‘regional disembarkment platforms’ in North Africa where the UN and other agencies could screen those who have a genuine claim to asylum in Europe.
Libya opposed the European Union plan to combat migration influx with rehabilitation centres.
“All North African countries reject this proposal – Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Libya, as well,” said the foreign minister, who believes that implementation of strengthening of border security and procuring better Governmental outreach and effectiveness in implementation models, would be a better way forward.
Crossing the Mediterranean has become a dangerous endeavour with the UN reporting 1,700 deaths of migrants wishing to cross the Mediterranean into Europe in 2018. In addition, any centre that promises to be an interim housing facility for migrants turns into a detention facility with a reported 30,000 migrants being illegally detained in centres.
The impasse came as the EU said it was willing to work as a temporary crisis centre to oversee the distribution of refugees and migrants from ships landing in Europe from Libya. Italy has said it is not willing to open its ports and may even reject those rescued by the EU Sophia search and rescue mission, a position that has infuriated other EU states.
The European parliament president, Antonio Tajani, said after a trip to Niger, one of the chief funnels for people into Libya, that the EU needed to plough more money into the Sahel region to reduce the need to leave the area. He said the number of people reaching Libya from Niger was collapsing.
Assessment
Our assessment is that the best way forward for all stakeholders is the provision of assistance and cooperative mission building programs that would help fulfil institutional needs of governance of Libya. We believe that the plan is intended to break the business model of people-smuggling gangs by processing refugees and migrants outside the EU. We feel that such a plan will prevents migrants from perishing in the seas, as they try to cross to Europe.
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