The EU’s draft plan to attack and destroy migrant traffickers’ boats to reduce migration will not solve the issue, it can be done in 30 minutes, the Tripoli self-proclaimed government’s Oil and Gas Minister Mashala S. Agoub Said highlighted when asked by this newsroom whether this measure would help tackle the problem.

Speaking during a news conference held at the Tripoli government’s embassy in Attard, Mr Agoub Said highlighted that the way to go about things is for the EU to provide logistical support to Libya so that its 2,000 kilometre coastal stretch – which is difficult to control - could be monitored effectively while also helping Libya financially sustain the migrant reception centres.

He said that between 400 and 700 migrants are currently staying at each of Libya’s 20 reception centres, the number totalling around 10,000. He added that 200 or so migrants enter Libya on a daily basis.

“We are prepared to engage in the pushbacks of migrants,” he said. But this newsroom pointed out that in principle, the EU is against pushbacks and therefore the likelihood is that it will not support Libya if it engaged in push backs since certain migrants, such as those from Somalia, face torture or are even killed if they are flown back to their country of origin.

On this point, he explained that Somalis can stay in Libya – there’s enough space, he said - but those hailing from Chad for instance, can be flown back. This, Mr Said, explained will help reduce the migration problem Libya is facing which in turn will help reduce migrants flowing to EU countries such as Malta, France and Italy.

He pointed out that Libya is facing there major problems: illegal migration, ISIS, and General Hifter.

Tripoli minister condemns General Hifter's actions

Mr Said – who, to the surprise of journalists present, said that General Hifter is his brother-in-law and that he has good relations with him, condemned Hifter’s actions, stating that what he is doing is far worse than what Muammar Gaddafi had done in a lifetime.

He said that 58,000 people had to flee Benghazi and many were killed due to his actions. “Hifter is turning Libya into a second Somalia,” he lamented.

“After the 2011 revolution, we did not kill people who supported Gaddafi, or destroyed their homes, for instance,” he explained.

“Hifter is using migrants in Libya and turning them into mercenaries  and he should be stopped,” he said.

An image produced by Oil and Gas Minister Agoub Said shows General Hifter (centre) pictured with who he claims are “migrants turned mercenaries”

Mr Said explained that in 2012, Libya’s annual income of the whole population jumped from €47 billion to €60 billion which “confirmed that whoever supported the 2011 revolution did right in doing so”, thanking all those who did support the revolution.

In 2013, he said, the annual income decreased from its 60 billion to 40 billion and in 2014 shot down to 15 billion.

“This is all a result of an agenda outside Libya,” he said.

Turning his guns on ISIS, he said that ISIS is like a “cancer” and is responsible for the increase of migrants. He said that momentarily, ISIS is outside Sirte and Tripoli is fighting ISIS militants.

Tripoli urges Tobruk to engage in dialogue

Mr Said urged the Tobruk-based government to engage in dialogue with Tripoli for “a better Libya” and to reach an agreement and call for a ceasefire. He said that once the situation in Libya stabilises, we can start rebuilding Libya gradually.

“Libya has many advantages: it’s a big country, has fine weather, is close to a number of EU countries, and has many resources such as gold and oil,” he said.