Libyan Protesters Storm UN Office Over Unconfirmed Migrant Resettlement Reports

Protesters in Libya stormed a UN mission office near Tripoli over reports of possible migrant resettlement plans in the country, blocking access to another UNHCR office and demanding the agency’s departure. The UN has not confirmed any resettlement plan and warned that misinformation could fuel tension and violence. Libyan authorities and officials have also rejected the reports, while irregular migration remains a major issue in the country amid ongoing instability.

Protesters in Libya stormed a United Nations mission office west of the capital, Tripoli, on Thursday following reports about possible migrant resettlement in the country.
Footage shared by activists on social media showed demonstrators entering the UN mission headquarters in the Janzour area of Tripoli. The protesters also blocked access to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Sarraj district by piling sand at its entrances, according to videos circulating online.
The Al-Sarraj Social Council, a local organisation, called for the UNHCR to leave Libya, accusing it of supporting what it described as “irregular migrants.” It also urged support for Libyan government efforts to deport individuals referred to as “infiltrators.”
The unrest came after unverified media reports suggested that UN agencies were planning migrant resettlement operations in Libya. However, neither Libyan authorities nor UN bodies have confirmed any such plans.
The UN mission in Libya expressed concern over what it described as the spread of misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric targeting migrants. It warned that such narratives could fuel tension, mistrust, discrimination, and violence, affecting the dignity, security, and daily lives of people in the country.
Several Libyan officials have also rejected the idea of migrant resettlement. The Tripoli-based government’s Foreign Ministry restated its opposition, while other senior officials, including members of the Presidency Council and the High Council of State, also dismissed the reports.
Security developments have continued alongside the tensions. Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of eastern-based forces, ordered security agencies to address what he called the “illegal presence” of irregular migrants. In the western city of Zuwara, local authorities introduced a temporary night curfew for foreign residents, citing public safety concerns.
Irregular migration remains a major issue in northwestern Libya, especially along the Mediterranean coast in cities such as Qarabulli, Sabratha, and Zuwara, where trafficking networks continue to operate amid ongoing political divisions and instability.