On Thursday, June 4, 2026, hundreds of Libyan protesters blocked access to the UNHCR office in central Tripoli and stormed the UNSMIL compound in Janzour, west of Tripoli, in what marked the largest protest against migrants in recent months. The unrest erupted from a single piece of false information: social media reports claiming that UNHCR was distributing “resettlement cards” to refugees and illegal immigrants in Libya. Aliased claims of resettlement were categorically false, as the United Nation clarified. This single falsehood set off a chain of events that would expose the dangerous power of migration disinformation in North Africa.
The UNHCR is focused on assisting individuals fleeing conflict by providing solutions outside Libya, such as evacuation to third nations and voluntary repatriation when circumstances permit, not resettlement within Libya. The United Nation profoundly troubled by the violent protests that occurred outside the UNHCR and UNSMIL offices in Tripoli, and unequivocally condemns any acts of violence or threats directed at personnel or facilities.
The Scale of Disinformation Campaign
The United Nation’s analysis revealed that combating disinformation in Libya is extremely challenging, and urged social media platforms to collaborate in tackling this issue. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had already warned against misinformation earlier in the year. Deeply concerned with a misinformation campaign that is fueling tensions in Libya and inciting hate speech against refugees and migrants, the United Nation stated that misleading narratives only foster fear and hostility.
This pattern of disinformation is not new. Following misinformation campaigns on social media claiming that the western Government of National Unity (GNU) had agreed to resettle migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya, the country has witnessed an escalation in arrests, violent attacks including fatal ones, and hate speech inciting to racial discrimination and violence against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, especially against Black people. On March 14, 2025, protesters demonstrated in Algiers Square in Tripoli against resettlement, carrying signs chanting Libya for Libyans and No to settlement.
Protesters’ Demands and Political Context
Who Were the Demonstrators?
The protesters were not merely reacting to migration misinformation. Demonstrators chanted Libya belongs to Libyans among other chants and called for the closure of the UNHCR headquarters in the capital. They were seen holding signs reading Our love for our country is not racism and Libya is not the world’s garbage bin. These protesters demanded the expulsion of the United Nation mission and the resignation of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba’s Government of National Unity.
A demonstrator delegation from the western region voiced frustration with political and economic deterioration to the United Nation Special Representative Hanna Tetteh. Tetteh, a Ghanaian diplomat appointed as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya on January 24, 2025, had just briefed the UN Security Council on Libya’s situation before protesters stormed the compound.
The Broader Political Crisis
The migration protests occurred amidst deeper political instability. At least three ministers resigned in sympathy with protesters who want Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah to quit following recent clashes in Libya’s capital. Demonstrators chanted Dbeibah out and the government must go during a third weekly march on May 30, 2025. UN-recognised Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah faced calls to resign following clashes that killed at least 8 civilians according to United Nation figures.
The planned 2021 elections never held due to factional disputes, leaving Libya in prolonged political fragmentation. Armed faction clashes between the 444 Brigade and Radaa force killed 8 civilians in Tripoli, exacerbating tensions. Multiple western and eastern authorities have denied agreeing to any planned resettlement of migrants, claiming it would threaten the country’s demographic stability.
United Nation’s Official Stance and Legal Framework
UNSMIL’s Comprehensive Statement
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya issued a detailed statement addressing the crisis. The United Nation is concerned about the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech in relation to the work of the United Nations in Libya. The mission clarified that There is no existing U.N. resettlement program in the country.
The United Nation reaffirmed its unconditional respect for the right to peaceful protest while condemning violence. The mission emphasized that No justification for violence or intimidation, which we know does not align with Libyan culture, traditions, and values. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya called on all parties to uphold the peaceful nature of demonstrations, refrain from unlawful actions, and resolve disputes through dialogue.
Legal Protections for UN Personnel
The United Nation’s stance is grounded in international law. The 1946 Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nation guarantees inviolability of UN premises. The U.N. strongly condemns any attack or threat against its personnel or premises, as emphasized by the United Nation. The United Nation appreciates the support of Libyan authorities in maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of protesters and United Nation personnel and facilities.
Libyan security forces intervened to disperse crowds and secured United Nation and local staff inside the Janzour compound. United Nation officials appreciated Tripoli authorities’ efforts maintaining public order and ensuring safety.
Root Causes Beyond Migration
Economic and Social Deterioration
The migration protests represent symptoms of deeper United Nation crises. Libyans hold migrants responsible for social and economic challenges exacerbated by 15 years of conflict and political fragmentation in the North African nation. Demonstrators blame migrants for social ills, though the United Nation says it does not resettle migrants in Libya.
In June 2025, UNHCR and partners provided Crisis Response Interventions to 14,755 individuals, including 11,893 Sudanese refugees, 893 from other refugee nationalities. This assistance occurs as 123.2 million people had been forced to flee their homes globally due to conflict and persecution as of June 2025.
Immigration Policy and Deportations
The Libyan government has taken aggressive action against irregular migration. Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah denied rumors about the United Nation government’s intention to resettle migrants within the country, stressing the government’s categorical rejection of any such settlement. 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 government highlighted that Libya deported 32,000 illegal migrants in 2024 and 20,000 in 2023, returning them to their countries of origin. On March 17, 2025, the GNU Minister of Interior announced plans to deport 100,000 migrants, refugees and asylum seekers every four months.
Human Rights Organizations’ Response
International Concerns About Violence
The International Commission of Jurists condemned the violence against migrants. The International Commission of Jurists condemns the recent collective expulsions, arrests, violent attacks and the surge of hate speech, including that which constitutes incitement to violence, against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya.
The National Institution for Human Rights in Libya (NIHRL) echoed United Nation concerns. The NIHRL expressed grave concern about the campaigns inciting violence and hatred on social media platforms against foreign residents and migrants, and the dissemination of false, misleading, and fabricated information by some bloggers, public figures, and social media pages.
This constitutes an escalation and incitement against arrivals and migrants from neighboring countries, and poses risks to their lives, security, and personal and psychological well-being, as the NIHRL stated. The institution also condemned leaders of the so-called anti-resettlement movement, which exploits the situation to incite chaos, destabilize security and stability, sow confusion, and manipulate the right to peaceful protest to incite violence, hatred, and racism.
The Challenge of Combatting United Nation Disinformation
Social Media Platform Responsibility
On June 1, 2026, the United Nation in Libya expressed concern over the renewed spread of misinformation, disinformation, and inflammatory rhetoric on social media platforms in Libya, including content targeting individuals or specific groups. Such narratives risk fuelling tension, mistrust, discrimination, and violence, undermining the dignity, safety and well-being of people across Libya.
The United Nation said that at a time when Libya continues to face complex political, economic, and social challenges, all actors have a shared responsibility to refrain from rhetoric that may incite hatred, discrimination, or violence. The United Nation called upon competent national authorities to take appropriate measures to address acts of incitement and the dissemination of harmful false information that may threaten public order, social cohesion, or the rights and dignity of individuals.
United Nation’s Operational Reality
UNHCR works closely with Libyan authorities to identify and support solutions outside of Libya for people fleeing war and persecution, including solutions in third countries such as resettlement and voluntary returns when feasible. The United Nation focuses on evacuations to third countries and voluntary returns to home countries, not resettlement in Libya.
Consequences for Libya’s Political Future
Threat to United Nation Election Progress
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya warned that campaigns of incitement and disinformation could derail political progress toward national elections. The mission’s concerns reflect the fragility of Libya’s political transition. Campaigns of incitement and disinformation could derail political progress toward national elections, as the United Nation stated.
United Nation’s Mandate Extension
The Security Council adopted Resolution 2796 on October 31, 2025, renewing the United Nations Support Mission in Libya’s mandate through October 31, 2026. This extension comes amid continuing instability and the United Nation’s need for support in Libya’s political process.
A Pattern of Anti-Migrant United Nation Violence
March 2025 Protests Preceded Current Crisis
The June 2026 United Nation protests follow a similar pattern from March 2025. On March 14, 2025, self-styled Friday for the Expulsion of Africans from Libya protesters demonstrated in Algiers Square in Tripoli against resettlement of foreign nationals. These protesters carried signs chanting Libya for Libyans and No to settlement.
Both instances demonstrate how quickly false information about migration resettlement can mobilize large groups against United Nation facilities and migrants. The pattern reveals systematic vulnerability to United Nation disinformation campaigns targeting migration policy.
The June 4, 2026 Libya United Nation protests demonstrate how a single false claim about migration resettlement can storm United Nation compounds, threaten international personnel, and threaten political progress. Combating disinformation in Libya is extremely challenging, as the United Nation spokesperson described, and urged social media platform collaboration.
The United Nation protests reveal that migration disinformation operates as a powerful political tool, mobilizing protesters against both United Nation facilities and migrants while demanding government resignations. With 123.2 million people forcibly displaced globally and Libya serving as a key transit hub for migrants seeking Europe, the United Nation stakes remain high.
The United Nation’s categorical rejection of resettlement claims, combined with Libyan government deportation of 52,000 migrants in 2023-2024, demonstrates the reality contradicts the false narrative. Yet the false claim proved powerful enough to shut United Nation offices, demand United Nation expulsion, and threaten elections. This exposes the dangerous power United Nation migration disinformation holds over Libya’s fragile political future.
