Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is prioritizing enhanced cooperation with North African countries to address migration issues. On Tuesday, she made a significant visit to Libya, engaging with its two rival administrations. She met with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Rahman al-Dbeibeh and President of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi in Tripoli.
Prioritizing Migration in Libya Talks
Meloni stressed the importance of continuing and expanding the cooperation between Italy and Libya, which has already yielded substantial results. She proposed further involvement of Libya in the Rome Process working groups. This initiative, launched by Meloni last summer, aims to coordinate actions on migration policy, addressing conflict, economic hardship, climate change, and combating human trafficking.
Impact on Migrant Arrivals
According to the Italian Interior Ministry, irregular migrant arrivals from Libya to Italy totaled at least 8,271 in the early months of 2024. This is a significant reduction from the 18,022 arrivals during the same period in 2023. Experts, however, suggest that traffickers might be redirecting routes from Italy to Greece, as indicated by the increased arrivals on Greek islands.
Human Rights Concerns
During Meloni’s visit, the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans called for an end to Italian funding of Libyan militias. They condemned Italy’s alleged complicity in human rights abuses, stating that the Italy-Libya pact has caused suffering for thousands of migrants since 2017.
Meeting with General Haftar
Meloni also traveled to Benghazi to meet with General Khalifa Belqasim Omar Haftar, leader of the Libyan Arab National Army. Her office reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to Libya’s stability and support for UN-mediated efforts towards consensus on upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
Political Context
Libya is currently governed by two rival political-military coalitions:
- The UN-supported Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by al-Dbeibeh.
- The National Stability Government in Benghazi, led by Osama Saad Hammad Saleh, backed by General Haftar.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Meloni’s visit underscores Italy’s strategic efforts to reshape EU-North Africa relations and address migration challenges through increased cooperation and dialogue.
