اخبار ليبيا اليوم – وطن نيوز
اخر اخبار ليبيا- اخبار ليبيا الان
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-06-06 02:27:00
Political analyst, Bashir Al-Juwaini, said that the discussion on the issue of illegal immigration must not ignore a set of basic principles, noting that the countries of the southern Mediterranean, including Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Morocco, are among the countries most affected by the phenomenon of migration, in addition to being transit stations towards the northern bank of the Mediterranean, which, according to him, imposes the necessity of sharing the burdens fairly. Al-Juwaini explained, in an interview with the “Libya Al-Ahrar” channel, monitored by Al-Sa’a 24 newspaper, that what has been observed in recent years, and even over more than a decade, is that the partners in the European Union, especially the countries overlooking the Mediterranean, are dealing with this issue with a logic that is dominated by a great deal of selfishness, pointing out that the European Union and the European countries concerned are keen to negotiate with the countries of the South individually, while providing what is commensurate with the priorities and needs of each country, whether financial, security, or related. In international relations. He added that the current European strategy is based primarily on protecting the interests of Europe and the European Union before any other consideration, stressing that this approach has become the subject of widespread criticism, not only by observers, but also in European reports and reports issued by various international organizations and institutions, which indicate – according to him – that the European Union has become more focused on its own interests than ever before. He also pointed out that the agreements concluded with Tunisia and Libya, in addition to the new European pact on migration, lead to increased burdens on countries in the region that already face internal structural problems, including the challenges of political transition, divisions, and security and economic crises, which raises questions about the extent to which this type of cooperation is compatible with the interests of the southern Mediterranean countries. Al-Juwaini stressed that the existing balance of cooperation in this file appears unequal. He noted that the relationship includes more demands and dictates than understandings or true partnership, despite the repeated political rhetoric about joint cooperation that is presented in meetings and gatherings held in Tripoli, Tunisia, Algeria, and other capitals. He wondered about the extent of the countries of the region’s ability to continue to bear additional security, political and economic burdens, pointing out that North African countries were historically part of a vital space extending towards sub-Saharan Africa, where caravan routes and economic and social ties between the two sides formed a natural communication network that continued for long periods. He also considered that the transformations that the region has witnessed in recent decades have led to structural changes that are not – from his point of view – in the interest of its countries, whether politically, economically or geopolitically, pointing out that the European partners are constantly working to strengthen their blocs and common interests, while the manifestations of competition and barriers between North African and sub-Saharan African countries are increasing. Al-Juwaini stressed that what is required is not to transfer the crises to the northern shore of the Mediterranean or to use the immigration file as a pressure card, but rather to reformulate the nature of relations with European countries, including Italy, Spain, France and others, especially since these countries have already changed their approaches and policies towards the immigration file. He pointed out that the new European Charter faces widespread criticism, especially with regard to human rights issues and the gains made during the past five or six decades in the field of migration and asylum at the international level, considering that these developments require a broader review of the nature of the existing cooperation between the southern Mediterranean countries and the European Union in this file. In a related context, Al-Juwaini said that dealing with the migration issue must start from adherence to international legal rules that are based on the principles of generality, abstractness and binding, considering that the world stands today at a crossroads between preserving the humanitarian gains that humanity has accumulated over long decades or retreating from them in favor of the logic of narrow interests. He explained that the essence of these laws is to protect the human being, regardless of his country, affiliation, color, or gender, stressing that human dignity must remain the ruling principle in dealing with immigration and asylum issues, stressing at the same time the need not to overlook the African dimension of the crisis, in light of the challenges and accumulated tragedies that sub-Saharan African countries are suffering from. Al-Juwaini pointed out that part of the crises that the African continent is experiencing are related to internal factors, but an important aspect of them is also due to long-standing historical grievances linked to colonialism, the depletion of resources, and the abort of development experiences in a number of African countries, pointing out that these historical backgrounds cannot be separated from the current reality of migration. He added that what is required is a collective commitment from developed and developing countries to the agreements, legal instruments and international contracts that have been completed to protect the most vulnerable groups, including women, children and refugees. At the same time, he warned of the growth of new challenges such as climate asylum resulting from climate change that is striking many African countries dependent on agriculture and pastoralism, and pushing the population to migrate and search for new places to live. Al-Juwaini stressed that the issue of migration does not concern Tunisia, Libya, or Algeria alone, explaining that the majority of migrants fleeing their difficult situations do not primarily seek stability in transit countries, but rather aim to reach other destinations, considering that the continued absence of balanced commitments on the part of European countries raises questions about the reasons for bearing the burdens of this crisis on the southern Mediterranean countries alone. He also stated that the numbers related to immigration only reflect the apparent part of the problem, pointing out the presence of procrastination and imbalances in the nature of dealings between the various parties, and considering that the existing relations still often lack the required equality between African countries and European countries. Al-Juwaini saw that the existing dispute is not limited to non-compliance with international rules and practices that were reached after decades of struggle and joint work, but also extends to what he described as the focus of some European countries on their own interests and reducing the numbers of arrivals to them by any means possible, whether through security approaches or through cooperation with different regimes with the aim of reducing the flows of refugees, who remain – as he put it – the weakest link in this equation. He added that achieving a decrease in the number of arrivals to Europe may represent a success for the northern countries, but the pressures are increasing on the countries of the southern Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa, stressing that the continued absence of justice and balance in international relations will make migration a continuous and natural phenomenon in light of the existing disparity between countries and societies. Al-Juwayni recalled historical examples of migration in the Mediterranean region, pointing out that European peoples, including Italians, migrated in previous stages to North African countries in search of livelihood and work, and historical periods also witnessed the movement of populations between the two shores for economic and livelihood reasons, considering that these facts confirm that migration is a deep-rooted human phenomenon and is not linked to a specific time period. He believed that the future of the Mediterranean must be based on a balanced system of rights, duties, and equality between peoples and countries, far from any distinction between European capitals and others, warning that the continuation of each party in searching for its narrow interests will lead to dangerous results that are not limited to Africa alone, but extend to the entire Mediterranean space. Al-Juwaini also warned that the Mediterranean, which is described today as the largest cemetery for migrants in the world, may turn into an open arena for settling political, security, economic, and military scores, thus opening the way for additional regional and international interventions that will increase the suffering of the region’s population. He stressed that women, children, and refugees will remain the groups most affected by these developments, and that addressing the issue requires viewing it as a humanitarian issue related to the destinies of human beings, while respecting the sovereignty of states and the rights of their citizens, and at the same time taking into account the geopolitical dimension and African expansion. Which historically contributed to shaping the region’s identity and development. In his evaluation of the new European Migration Charter, Al-Juwaini said that the central phrase in it is its focus on managing the file outside European borders, considering that this legal formulation is not fleeting, but rather reflects a clear trend towards transferring the burdens of the phenomena related to migration and asylum to the countries of the South, especially the countries of North Africa. He explained that the legal texts are carefully worded and do not tolerate interpretation, pointing out that the insistence on dealing with the issue outside the scope of the European Union suggests that Europe seeks to hold the countries of the South responsible for dealing with a global crisis, even though the largest portion of refugees in the world originally belong to the countries of the South. He added that the new formulations reflect a vision that focuses on reducing the number of arrivals to Europe and tightening procedures against asylum seekers and potential refugees, which explains the welcome shown by some European governments and media towards these policies. However, he considered that this approach ignores the real causes of migration that still exist, and are even more complicated by the political, economic and social crises that the world is witnessing. Al-Juwaini stressed that the growing conflicts, structural problems, and imbalances in relations between countries and their peoples only lead to an increase in the desire to migrate, pointing out that there are painful humanitarian stories that reflect the extent of the determination of migrants to reach the northern bank of the Mediterranean despite the repeated dangers they face. He also believed that looking at Europe as the only way out of crises represents one of the most prominent factors that push young people in many North African and sub-Saharan African countries to continue their migration attempts, pointing out that the loss of hope in the internal situation is pushing increasing numbers to search for a future outside their homelands. Al-Juwaini stressed that the security approach alone is not sufficient to address the phenomenon, explaining that it may succeed temporarily in reducing numbers or limiting some paths, but it will not end migration as long as its basic causes continue, stressing that migration is an ancient and rooted human phenomenon and not a new phenomenon. He continued: Sustainable solutions must combine preserving state sovereignty and security requirements on the one hand, and ensuring the rights of individuals to improve their conditions and adherence to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the other hand, warning at the same time against attempts to exploit some humanitarian or civil initiatives to advance other agendas, but he considered that this should not lead to the closure of all initiatives aimed at reducing the humanitarian tragedies associated with migration and asylum. Al-Juwaini pointed out that relations between the countries of the region, especially Libya and Tunisia, have historically been based on human communication and interaction at various points, considering that this common heritage can be used to enhance security, stability and cooperation among the countries of the region. He also stressed that security coordination between North African countries has reached levels he described as satisfactory, but he believes that the need has become urgent to move to a higher level of coordination represented by unifying political positions, especially in dealing with the European partner, wondering about the reasons for continuing to negotiate with the European Union individually instead of adopting a unified collective position. Al-Juwaini explained that European interests naturally push towards bilateral negotiations with each country individually, but the real question relates to the reasons for the countries of the region not unifying their positions, attributing this to a complex network of factors related to internal calculations and cases of instability in some countries, in addition to the impact of alliances and relations with various European parties. He added that the final result of this approach is clear, as the countries of the region negotiating individually weakens their negotiating position and gives the European Union a greater advantage, which he described as an unbalanced situation that requires treatment as soon as possible. Al-Juwayni pointed out that the immigration file has historically been used as a mutual pressure tool between some European countries and the countries of the southern Mediterranean, whether through aid or threats to stop it, or by controlling immigration flows according to the nature of political relations. He stressed that he does not call for employing the file with the logic of contention or populism, but he believes that some right-wing European governments are essentially dealing with the logic of a fait accompli. He also saw that thousands of migrants in transit countries do not intend to remain there permanently, questioning the feasibility of continuing to burden these countries with increasing burdens in light of what he described as the growing isolationist tendency within the European Union, which aims – in his estimation – to impose its conditions and establish an unequal relationship with the countries of the South. Al-Jouini concluded by emphasizing that the Maghreb countries are sovereign countries, and that the requirements of this sovereignty require giving priority to the internal national interest when dealing with various files, including the immigration file and relations with the European Union.
