Summary:

On 2 April 2025, Libya’s Tripoli-based government declared that they had suspended the activities of 10 international humanitarian organizations due to “violations” related to irregular migrants.  

The Internal Security Agency’s (ISA) spokesperson, Salem Ghaith, said that the agency had suspended the activities of several NGOs after observing what he described as serious violations involving settling migrants. He considered these activities a direct threat to national security and internal stability. 

Ghaith affirmed the ISA assessment that these NGOs were participating in a ‘migrant settlement project’ in Libya”, which he considered a hostile action aimed at changing the demographic composition of the country and threatening Libyan society. 

Ghaith also accused the European Union (EU) of exploiting Libya’s instability, using NGOs as a “tool” to resettle migrants, and even engaging in money laundering. 

Among these NGOs are the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Italian organization Terre des Hommes, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Doctors Without Borders. 

By 2023, The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated the number of migrants in Libya to be around 704,369. However, Libyan authorities claim that the number is higher.  

Outlook: 

Beyond the political instability and armed conflicts that have plagued Libya since 2011, the challenges tied to irregular migration have moved to the forefront of Libya’s domestic and international policy agendas. 

The suspension of prominent international aid organizations reflects Libya’s broader strategy to curb the waves of migrants within its borders, viewing the restrictions on NGOs as a means of controlling migration flows by deterring those viewed as providing them assistance or resources.  

However, this decision not only limits access to essential healthcare for vulnerable populations but also risks deterring future humanitarian aid investments and obstructing other NGO-led projects in Libya.  

Shutting down, or threatening to shut down, NGOs in Libya is nothing new. Groups committed to human rights and other development goals have long been disallowed to work within Libya borders. 

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