Libya's parliament-appointed government, headed by Osama Hammad, announced on Tuesday that it has begun preparations for an international conference on the phenomenon of irregular migration, to be held in the city of Benghazi, in late January. 

The Minister of State for Illegal Immigration Affairs for the government, Fathi al-Tabawi, said that the conference will shed light on the challenges and repercussions of irregular migration and its negative effects on state institutions, Libyan society and on the African and international arena in general, according to a government statement.

In his speech at the meeting of the preparatory committee for the conference, al-Tabawi said that the ministry will organize its activities in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and its work is scheduled to focus on ways to enhance cooperation among African countries in addressing the issue of irregular migration, and to develop sustainable and long-term solutions to coordinate labor migration policies.

The minister added that the five day conference will include workshops and interactive sessions in the presence of foreign government representatives, international organizations, and experts on irregular migration.