Libya’s Rival Governments Reject U.S. Deportation Plan, Cite Sovereignty Concerns

 Libya’s two rival governments have strongly denied any agreement with the United States to receive deported migrants, pushing back against reports that the Trump administration planned to transfer individuals to the North African country on a U.S. military aircraft.

On Tuesday, U.S. officials revealed that a deportation flight to Libya could depart as early as Wednesday, raising alarm in a country that remains deeply divided between two competing administrations: the internationally recognized government based in Tripoli and the eastern authority aligned with military commander Khalifa Hifter.

In a statement, the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity rejected “any agreement or coordination” with Washington over the entry of deported migrants. The government emphasized that it would not allow Libyan territory to be used as a destination for deportees “without its knowledge or consent,” warning that any such move would violate Libya’s sovereignty.

The Tripoli government also hinted that unauthorized elements may have engaged in backdoor dealings, referring to “parallel entities” — a likely nod to officials in eastern Libya — but insisted that such arrangements “do not represent the Libyan state and are not legally or politically binding.”

Authorities in eastern Libya echoed the denial. The foreign ministry under Hifter’s administration released a statement Wednesday saying it “firmly rejects the existence of any agreements or understandings concerning the resettlement of migrants of any nationality, whether African, European, American or otherwise.”

While the U.S. maintains formal diplomatic ties only with the Tripoli government, recent visits by Hifter’s son, Saddam — a senior military official in eastern Libya — to Washington have fueled speculation of possible unofficial agreements. Former President Donald Trump, now seeking a return to office, maintained friendly relations with Khalifa Hifter during his first term and is believed to still regard him as a key regional partner due to his control over Libya’s critical oil fields.

Human rights organizations have raised serious concerns over any migrant deportations to Libya, citing widespread abuse in the country’s migrant detention system. Libya has long served as a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, and its detention centers have been described by Amnesty International as a “hellscape.” A 2021 report by the group detailed rampant sexual violence against detainees, including minors.

The Global Detention Project has also documented systemic mistreatment in Libya’s migrant centers, including torture, forced labor, and conditions amounting to modern-day slavery.

With both Libyan administrations distancing themselves from the U.S. plan, it remains unclear whether the proposed deportation flight will proceed — or who, if anyone, authorized it.