The Head of the Libyan Organization for Human Rights, Hanan Al-Sharif, has called for the creation of a dedicated national Authority to manage migration and asylum affairs, arguing that the issue should be treated as a sovereign matter central to national security and social stability.
In a press statement, Al-Sharif said that migration and asylum governance must be anchored in national legislation and aligned with Libya’s sovereignty, noting that the presence of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Libya was originally tied to exceptional humanitarian circumstances.
She added that the expansion of UNHCR activities in recent years requires a legal and regulatory review by Libyan authorities to clearly define mandates and ensure respect for national jurisdiction. She urged the establishment of structured institutional mechanisms to manage migration more effectively.
Al-Sharif stressed that a specialized national body would help balance humanitarian obligations with national interests, particularly amid ongoing debate over irregular migration and refugee management.
Similarly, the Tripoli-based activist group “No to Settlement, No to Resettlement” called for stronger national procedures governing migration, citing concerns over sovereignty, security and socio-economic pressures. The group said policy responses should be guided by comprehensive national frameworks.
The statement referenced data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on migrant populations across Libyan municipalities, arguing that current trends require a coordinated national response to emerging challenges.
In response, the UNHCR clarified that its role in Libya is strictly humanitarian and technical, carried out in coordination with Libyan authorities. It emphasized that it has no sovereign authority over migration management and does not implement resettlement programmes within the country.
The Agency added that registration of refugees does not interfere with state authority over foreign nationals, and that its focus remains on protection, assistance and facilitating solutions outside Libya. It noted that more than 83% of registered persons are Sudanese nationals and confirmed that voluntary return options remain available.
The debate comes amid growing calls from both state and civil society actors for clearer regulatory frameworks to address irregular migration and asylum governance in Libya.
