Eastern Libya Explores Mechanisms to Speed Up the Return of Sudanese Nationals

Authorities in eastern Libya are working to establish mechanisms to accelerate the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese citizens who fled the war, most of whom are concentrated in the city of Kufra in the country’s southeast.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government appointed by the House of Representatives, the committee responsible for following up on the voluntary return program for displaced Sudanese held its second meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister Abdelhadi Al-Huwaij, to discuss the issue.

The meeting, the ministry said, focused on ways to expedite the procedures for voluntary return in coordination with the Sudanese Consulate General.

It also recommended conducting a comprehensive and rapid health screening, especially for individuals with chronic or infectious diseases, those with security restrictions, and those subject to deportation decisions.

During the meeting—attended by the head of the Anti-Illegal Migration Department, Major General Salah Al-Khafifi—it was agreed to cooperate with the Sudanese consulate to issue official documents for the targeted groups as a first phase of the program, while ensuring readiness and efficiency in implementation.

Meanwhile, the Joint Security Room in southeastern Libya distributed humanitarian aid to some of the most vulnerable Sudanese families in the city of Kufra.

Earlier, on August 17, the Sudanese Consulate in Benghazi launched an initiative to facilitate the voluntary return of thousands of Sudanese who fled the conflict and are currently living in several Libyan cities, including Kufra.

At the time, the consulate stated, “Following the steady improvement in security conditions in our country and the growing desire among citizens to return to Sudan, we are conducting a registration process for those wishing to return.”

In late July, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that 313,000 Sudanese had arrived in Libya since April 2023. The agency projected that the number could reach 650,000 by the end of 2025, with 300 to 600 Sudanese entering Libya daily.