Published 3:15 PM ET, Wednesday 22, 2025
More than 600 Nigeriens have been forcibly deported from Libya on a “dangerous and traumatising” journey across the Sahara, in what is thought to be one of the largest expulsions from the North African country to date.
The recent expulsion highlights the ongoing challenges faced by migrants and refugees in the region. This forced deportation involved a perilous journey through the desert, which is both physically and emotionally distressing. Such actions often occur as part of Libya’s efforts to manage its migrant population, which includes a significant number of individuals from sub-Saharan Africa seeking better opportunities or fleeing instability.
The conditions of these deportations, including reports of dangerous travel through harsh desert terrain, raise serious humanitarian concerns. International organizations, such as the UN and human rights groups, frequently emphasize the need for countries to adhere to international laws protecting the rights and dignity of migrants. The lack of proper support during such expulsions can lead to loss of life and exacerbate regional instability.
David Yambio, spokesperson for the nonprofit organisation Refugees in Libya, said:
“This is Europe’s border policy laid bare, outsourcing mass expulsion and death to Libya, where the desert becomes a graveyard.
“Leaders like [Viktor] Orbán, [Giorgia] Meloni, or Trump applaud such efficient cruelty. It’s no accident; it’s the design. The EU pays to erase migrants, to make suffering invisible, and to wash its hands while others do its dirty work.”
This incident also sheds light on the broader context of migration in the Sahel and North African regions, where economic challenges, conflict, and weak governance push individuals to seek better prospects abroad, often through irregular and risky routes
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