TRIPOLI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday warned against misinformation and hate speech in Libya against refugees and migrants.

"The United Nations in Libya is deeply concerned with a misinformation campaign that is fueling tensions in Libya and inciting hate speech against refugees and migrants. Misleading narratives only foster fear and hostility," UNSMIL said in a statement.

It urged all actors to refrain from spreading unverified information and ensure that public discourse is fact-based and respectful of human rights.

Also on Thursday, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah denied rumors about the government's intention to resettle migrants within the country, stressing the government's categorical rejection of any such settlement.

In a statement issued by the government, Dbeibah emphasized that Libya "will not be a haven for illegal migration," and that the security and stability of the Libyan people is a red line.

The statement further highlighted that Libya deported 32,000 illegal migrants in 2024 and 20,000 in 2023, returning them to their countries of origin.

The denial followed social media rumors claiming that Minister of Local Governance Badr Al-Din Al-Toumi had promised to resettle undocumented migrants in Libya, claims which the government has consistently rejected.

Since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a primary departure point for African immigrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores. Enditem

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