Libya expelled aid groups from its borders, alleging what it described as a plot by the groups to change the country’s ‘demographic composition’

|Published 4:00 PM ET, Saturday April 05, 2025|

Tripoli: Libyan authorities have ordered the suspension and closure of ten international aid organizations, accusing them of violating national laws by assisting African migrants. The Internal Security Agency (ISA) asserts that the aid provided—ranging from medical assistance to housing and food—encourages the permanent settlement of migrants in Libya, which it considers detrimental to the country’s demographic composition. ​

The organizations affected include Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, Terre des Hommes, Care, Acted, Inter SOS, and Italy’s Cesvi. Many of these organizations played crucial roles in relief efforts following Libya’s devastating 2023 floods. ​

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The ISA also alleges financial misconduct, including money laundering and improper currency exchange. Additionally, organizations like MSF and Relief International have been accused of offering unauthorized medical aid and operating without ministry approval. ​

Libya has been destabilized since the 2011 fall of Moammar Gadhafi and has become a major transit hub for migrants aiming to reach Europe, with nearly 787,000 migrants residing in the country as of 2024. The closures significantly impact humanitarian efforts, as migrants continue to face dire living conditions and widespread abuse.