Libya repatriates hundreds of migrants, deploys reinforcements to Tobruk

Libya’s Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) has repatriated or transferred hundreds of migrants for repatriation from detention centres in the country’s eastern region, while deploying reinforcement units to Tobruk to strengthen operations against irregular migration.

The developments were reported in a series of posts on X by Migrant Rescue Watch.

On October 15, 2026, the DCIM deployed reinforcement units to Tobruk to support its local branch in combating irregular migration in the city and surrounding areas under its responsibility.

The same day, the agency repatriated seven Egyptian migrants from the East Tripoli Immigration Detention Centre in Tajoura through Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, according to Migrant Rescue Watch.

A day earlier, on October 14, the DCIM in Tobruk repatriated or transferred 209 migrants for repatriation. Egyptian nationals were returned through the Emsaed land border crossing, while the others were transferred to the Quanafudah Immigration Detention Centre for repatriation.

In a separate operation on September 28, the agency transferred 297 migrants of different nationalities from the Tobruk Immigration Detention Centre to the Quanafudah facility in Benghazi for repatriation.

The DCIM also repatriated or transferred 250 migrants of different nationalities from the Shahat Immigration Detention Centre on the same day, according to the posts.

The reports did not specify the nationalities of all the migrants involved or provide further details about their circumstances and the arrangements for their return.

The operations come amid continued migration enforcement activities in eastern Libya, where authorities have been carrying out transfers and repatriations of migrants held in detention facilities.