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Implications and Risks of Irregular Migration for Security, Stability, and Development in Libya

Ali Hamza Abbas1, Nihaya Mohammed Saleh1
1Department of History, College of Basic Education, University of Mosul, Iraq
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70517/revcc2624161
Published: 15/10/2026
: Ali Hamza Abbas, Nihaya Mohammed Saleh. Implications and Risks of Irregular Migration for Security, Stability, and Development in Libya. Revista Cultura Científica, 2026 Issue 24. pg. 1920-1935.

Abstract

This article examines the implications of irregular migration for security, societal stability, and development in Libya, with particular attention to the country’s position as a country of origin, transit, and destination along Mediterranean migration routes. The analysis draws on a qualitative documentary review of historical scholarship, Libyan legal literature, institutional reports, and international policy materials, with particular emphasis on developments following the political and security crisis of 2011. It considers the economic, social, demographic, health, and governance dimensions of migration; the risks created by migrant-smuggling and trafficking networks; and the consequences of fragmented border administration and prolonged institutional instability. The discussion distinguishes irregular migration from migrant smuggling and human trafficking, recognizing the legal obligations associated with refugee protection and the rights of migrants. It also examines Libyan legislation, regional cooperation with European and African states, and United Nations recommendations regarding arbitrary detention, return procedures, and access to protection. The review indicates that border enforcement alone cannot adequately address the interdependent pressures of conflict, economic inequality, labor mobility, institutional fragmentation, and organized criminal exploitation. It argues for coordinated approaches combining accountable border management, access to lawful migration and asylum procedures, protection against exploitation, economic development, and international cooperation. Because the study is documentary rather than an original empirical investigation, its findings are interpretive and depend on the scope, historical context, and reliability of the sources consulted.

Keywords: irregular migration; Libya; migration governance; border security; human rights; migrant smuggling; development; Mediterranean migration

Abstract

This article examines the implications of irregular migration for security, societal stability, and development in Libya, with particular attention to the country’s position as a country of origin, transit, and destination along Mediterranean migration routes. The analysis draws on a qualitative documentary review of historical scholarship, Libyan legal literature, institutional reports, and international policy materials, with particular emphasis on developments following the political and security crisis of 2011. It considers the economic, social, demographic, health, and governance dimensions of migration; the risks created by migrant-smuggling and trafficking networks; and the consequences of fragmented border administration and prolonged institutional instability. The discussion distinguishes irregular migration from migrant smuggling and human trafficking, recognizing the legal obligations associated with refugee protection and the rights of migrants. It also examines Libyan legislation, regional cooperation with European and African states, and United Nations recommendations regarding arbitrary detention, return procedures, and access to protection. The review indicates that border enforcement alone cannot adequately address the interdependent pressures of conflict, economic inequality, labor mobility, institutional fragmentation, and organized criminal exploitation. It argues for coordinated approaches combining accountable border management, access to lawful migration and asylum procedures, protection against exploitation, economic development, and international cooperation. Because the study is documentary rather than an original empirical investigation, its findings are interpretive and depend on the scope, historical context, and reliability of the sources consulted.

Keywords: irregular migration; Libya; migration governance; border security; human rights; migrant smuggling; development; Mediterranean migration

References

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Ali Hamza Abbas
Department of History, College of Basic Education, University of Mosul, Iraq
alsofy7@uomosul.edu.iq
Nihaya Mohammed Saleh
Department of History, College of Basic Education, University of Mosul, Iraq

How to cite:

Ali Hamza Abbas, Nihaya Mohammed Saleh. Implications and Risks of Irregular Migration for Security, Stability, and Development in Libya. Revista Cultura Científica, 2026 Issue 24. pg. 1920-1935.

Publication History

  • Received: 12/07/2026
  • Accepted: 04/10/2026
  • Published: 15/10/2026
Copyright © 2026, Ali Hamza Abbas, Nihaya Mohammed Saleh. Published by Revista Cultura Científica. This article is published as open access under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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