Cairo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates announced that its efforts have led to the release of hundreds of Egyptian citizens involved in irregular migration cases.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the ministry stated that these efforts led to the release of 508 Egyptian nationals detained in Tripoli between the 1st of January and the end of April 2026. Their return to Egypt was secured in coordination with the Libyan authorities.

The ministry also succeeded in securing the release and repatriation of 871 Egyptian nationals detained in Benghazi after their involvement in irregular migration cases during the same period of the current year.

In parallel, the ministry continued to follow up on incidents involving the sinking of irregular migration boats carrying Egyptian nationals. Between January and April 2026, the remains of 94 victims were repatriated, in addition to five sets of remains identified through DNA testing of Egyptian citizens whose bodies were recovered off the Tunisian coast.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its appeal to citizens not to fall victim to false promises about irregular migration or to become involved with smuggling networks. It also stressed the importance of complying with entry regulations in neighboring countries by obtaining valid visas and documented employment contracts.