Tarek Megrisi
@tmegrisi.bsky.social
By day a mild mannered policy fellow @ecfr covering north Africa, migration and the geopolitics of the Mediterranean
Pinned
Tarek Megrisi
@tmegrisi.bsky.social
· Mar 8
Libya Is the Forgotten Wasteland of the International Order
Each year, the state that Libyans dreamed of gets farther away, and the Pandora’s box that Libya has become gets harder to keep shut.
dawnmena.org
2011's R2P intervention in Libya represented a peak of the international order.
Today Italy violates the Rome statute to protect a torturer while AFRICOM mollycoddles a cocaine baron
This is the story of Libya's reverse phoenix experience w/
@dawnmenaorg.bsky.social
dawnmena.org/libya-is-the...
Today Italy violates the Rome statute to protect a torturer while AFRICOM mollycoddles a cocaine baron
This is the story of Libya's reverse phoenix experience w/
@dawnmenaorg.bsky.social
dawnmena.org/libya-is-the...
Never thought I'd see the day where the British establishment is standing up for violent football hooligans over a police force's attempt to maintain public safety and order
October 17, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Never thought I'd see the day where the British establishment is standing up for violent football hooligans over a police force's attempt to maintain public safety and order
Thanks to Bill Law for inviting me back on the Arab Digest podcast where we chat about the Trump 'peace' plan before moving onto discuss all things Libya and what developments there tell us about modern diplomacy's corporatist overtones.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...
Vultures over Libya
Podcast Episode · Arab Digest podcasts · 10/15/2025 · 27m
podcasts.apple.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Thanks to Bill Law for inviting me back on the Arab Digest podcast where we chat about the Trump 'peace' plan before moving onto discuss all things Libya and what developments there tell us about modern diplomacy's corporatist overtones.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...
It's 2025 and sports washing is plumbing ever murkier and bloodier depths.
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan journeying to Benghazi today on Haftar's €3m invitation to lend some sporting legitimacy and glamour to his bloody and brutal authoritarian regime
ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/reveale...
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan journeying to Benghazi today on Haftar's €3m invitation to lend some sporting legitimacy and glamour to his bloody and brutal authoritarian regime
ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/reveale...
Revealed: How Much Inter Milan & Atletico Madrid Will Earn From Libya Friendly In Benghazi
Inter and Atletico Madrid will both earn around €3 million each from their friendly in Benghazi, Libya, part of the Reconstruction Cup, according to reports from Spain.The match takes place despite .....
ca.sports.yahoo.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
It's 2025 and sports washing is plumbing ever murkier and bloodier depths.
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan journeying to Benghazi today on Haftar's €3m invitation to lend some sporting legitimacy and glamour to his bloody and brutal authoritarian regime
ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/reveale...
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan journeying to Benghazi today on Haftar's €3m invitation to lend some sporting legitimacy and glamour to his bloody and brutal authoritarian regime
ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/reveale...
Fascinating to see Isabel Oakeshott
now blending her traditional right-wing grifts on issues like migration with UAE foreign policy projects, after moving to Dubai
See her recent puff-piece on Saddam Haftar, brutal authoritarian and ironically people smuggler
now blending her traditional right-wing grifts on issues like migration with UAE foreign policy projects, after moving to Dubai
See her recent puff-piece on Saddam Haftar, brutal authoritarian and ironically people smuggler
October 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Fascinating to see Isabel Oakeshott
now blending her traditional right-wing grifts on issues like migration with UAE foreign policy projects, after moving to Dubai
See her recent puff-piece on Saddam Haftar, brutal authoritarian and ironically people smuggler
now blending her traditional right-wing grifts on issues like migration with UAE foreign policy projects, after moving to Dubai
See her recent puff-piece on Saddam Haftar, brutal authoritarian and ironically people smuggler
Reposted by Tarek Megrisi
Ten years since the so-called "migration crisis," the EU is walking away with the wrong lessons when crafting migration policy. So what can rights-based, cooperative migration governance look like for MENA?
Don't miss @tmegrisi.bsky.social, Diana Rayes, Mohamed Lotfy, and Nadine Kheshen ⤵️
Don't miss @tmegrisi.bsky.social, Diana Rayes, Mohamed Lotfy, and Nadine Kheshen ⤵️
🔔 Join us on Thursday, Sept 18 at 10:00 am EST for “Beyond Fortress Europe: Rethinking Migration Governance in the EU and MENA,” an online event with @tmegrisi.bsky.social, Diana Rayes, Mohamed Lotfy, and Nadine Kheshen, moderated by @tekaldas.bsky.social.
Register here: timep.org/2025/09/02/b...
Register here: timep.org/2025/09/02/b...
September 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Ten years since the so-called "migration crisis," the EU is walking away with the wrong lessons when crafting migration policy. So what can rights-based, cooperative migration governance look like for MENA?
Don't miss @tmegrisi.bsky.social, Diana Rayes, Mohamed Lotfy, and Nadine Kheshen ⤵️
Don't miss @tmegrisi.bsky.social, Diana Rayes, Mohamed Lotfy, and Nadine Kheshen ⤵️
Reposted by Tarek Megrisi
The ever-more radcalised Elon Musk regularly shares content from Steve Laws.
Laws leads breakaway faction quitting Homeland for its leader only supporting the voluntary, not forced repatriation of British-born minorities
"I don't care if they were born here, every single one must go" i
Laws leads breakaway faction quitting Homeland for its leader only supporting the voluntary, not forced repatriation of British-born minorities
"I don't care if they were born here, every single one must go" i
September 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
The ever-more radcalised Elon Musk regularly shares content from Steve Laws.
Laws leads breakaway faction quitting Homeland for its leader only supporting the voluntary, not forced repatriation of British-born minorities
"I don't care if they were born here, every single one must go" i
Laws leads breakaway faction quitting Homeland for its leader only supporting the voluntary, not forced repatriation of British-born minorities
"I don't care if they were born here, every single one must go" i
The commentary of armed actors in #Libya from the likes of Haftar to local commanders shows that even if this situation doesnt inflame, the environment is already one of war.
The new UN roadmap alone wont be enough to change this, it's where the diplomats must come in to build out on it
The new UN roadmap alone wont be enough to change this, it's where the diplomats must come in to build out on it
Tensions in Libya are rising dangerously, whether it's:
-The parade of Egyptian, Turkish & Emirati intelligence chiefs visiting Haftar
-Dbeiba aligned troops pouring into the capital.
-May's peacekeepers being removed
-Anti-Dbeiba troops parading
Something's cooking & it's unlikely to be good
-The parade of Egyptian, Turkish & Emirati intelligence chiefs visiting Haftar
-Dbeiba aligned troops pouring into the capital.
-May's peacekeepers being removed
-Anti-Dbeiba troops parading
Something's cooking & it's unlikely to be good
August 31, 2025 at 11:50 AM
The commentary of armed actors in #Libya from the likes of Haftar to local commanders shows that even if this situation doesnt inflame, the environment is already one of war.
The new UN roadmap alone wont be enough to change this, it's where the diplomats must come in to build out on it
The new UN roadmap alone wont be enough to change this, it's where the diplomats must come in to build out on it
The UAE continues to replicate their Libya policy in Sudan as their local proxy Hemedti announces himself head of his own political authority deepening a de facto division in response to losing a war.
Tbf it worked for them in Libya, but will cause deep & complex trauma locally
Tbf it worked for them in Libya, but will cause deep & complex trauma locally
August 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The UAE continues to replicate their Libya policy in Sudan as their local proxy Hemedti announces himself head of his own political authority deepening a de facto division in response to losing a war.
Tbf it worked for them in Libya, but will cause deep & complex trauma locally
Tbf it worked for them in Libya, but will cause deep & complex trauma locally
Tensions in Libya are rising dangerously, whether it's:
-The parade of Egyptian, Turkish & Emirati intelligence chiefs visiting Haftar
-Dbeiba aligned troops pouring into the capital.
-May's peacekeepers being removed
-Anti-Dbeiba troops parading
Something's cooking & it's unlikely to be good
-The parade of Egyptian, Turkish & Emirati intelligence chiefs visiting Haftar
-Dbeiba aligned troops pouring into the capital.
-May's peacekeepers being removed
-Anti-Dbeiba troops parading
Something's cooking & it's unlikely to be good
August 29, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Tensions in Libya are rising dangerously, whether it's:
-The parade of Egyptian, Turkish & Emirati intelligence chiefs visiting Haftar
-Dbeiba aligned troops pouring into the capital.
-May's peacekeepers being removed
-Anti-Dbeiba troops parading
Something's cooking & it's unlikely to be good
-The parade of Egyptian, Turkish & Emirati intelligence chiefs visiting Haftar
-Dbeiba aligned troops pouring into the capital.
-May's peacekeepers being removed
-Anti-Dbeiba troops parading
Something's cooking & it's unlikely to be good
Saddam Haftar, a man with no military experience or qualifications, is now deputy commander of the LAAF.
It's a good indicator of the organisation's quality, what to expect from it, and the ambitions of its intnl backers
For more, see this excellent bio
en.majalla.com/node/322152/...
It's a good indicator of the organisation's quality, what to expect from it, and the ambitions of its intnl backers
For more, see this excellent bio
en.majalla.com/node/322152/...
Saddam Haftar: The nepotistic rise of a Libyan general
While he never underwent any real military training, he has been crucial to his father's bloody power struggle. He is now being backed by a range of powers to be Libya's next leader.
en.majalla.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Saddam Haftar, a man with no military experience or qualifications, is now deputy commander of the LAAF.
It's a good indicator of the organisation's quality, what to expect from it, and the ambitions of its intnl backers
For more, see this excellent bio
en.majalla.com/node/322152/...
It's a good indicator of the organisation's quality, what to expect from it, and the ambitions of its intnl backers
For more, see this excellent bio
en.majalla.com/node/322152/...
Devasting news about Anas..
A paragon of his profession, abandoned by his peers abroad after being openly targeted for his journalism by this cowardly, genocidal army desperate to ensure no one documents its horrific crimes to come.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون , الله يرحمك يا غالي
A paragon of his profession, abandoned by his peers abroad after being openly targeted for his journalism by this cowardly, genocidal army desperate to ensure no one documents its horrific crimes to come.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون , الله يرحمك يا غالي
Four Al Jazeera staff, including reporter Anas Al Sharif, were killed in an Israeli attack on a tent for journalists outside the main gate of Gaza's al-Shifa hospital aje.io/onll19
Anas al-Sharif among five Al Jazeera journalists killed by Israel in Gaza
Al Jazeera staff killed in targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists near al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City.
aje.io
August 11, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Devasting news about Anas..
A paragon of his profession, abandoned by his peers abroad after being openly targeted for his journalism by this cowardly, genocidal army desperate to ensure no one documents its horrific crimes to come.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون , الله يرحمك يا غالي
A paragon of his profession, abandoned by his peers abroad after being openly targeted for his journalism by this cowardly, genocidal army desperate to ensure no one documents its horrific crimes to come.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون , الله يرحمك يا غالي
Greece now indefinitely deploying naval vessels in Libyan waters, not to stop migrants as initially posited, but to defend their perceived 'maritime zone' .
Another alarm bell that plans to develop Libya's offshore fields will set the region aflame
www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
Another alarm bell that plans to develop Libya's offshore fields will set the region aflame
www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
Greece to maintain naval presence in the Libyan Sea | eKathimerini.com
The Greek Navy will continue to operate in the Libyan Sea to monitor Greek maritime zones, sources have told Kathimerini.
www.ekathimerini.com
August 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Greece now indefinitely deploying naval vessels in Libyan waters, not to stop migrants as initially posited, but to defend their perceived 'maritime zone' .
Another alarm bell that plans to develop Libya's offshore fields will set the region aflame
www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
Another alarm bell that plans to develop Libya's offshore fields will set the region aflame
www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
Poem of the day...
How many are the people
And
How rare is the human
How many are the people
And
How rare is the human
August 7, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Poem of the day...
How many are the people
And
How rare is the human
How many are the people
And
How rare is the human
For anyone familiar with EU migration policy, the recent EU-US trade deal won't come as much of a surprise. EU policymaking has long been driven by reactionary fears of fantastical what-if's, rather than the ambition of trying to shape what could (and arguably should) be
July 29, 2025 at 11:05 AM
For anyone familiar with EU migration policy, the recent EU-US trade deal won't come as much of a surprise. EU policymaking has long been driven by reactionary fears of fantastical what-if's, rather than the ambition of trying to shape what could (and arguably should) be
Reposted by Tarek Megrisi
With Russia's Libya presence continuing to grow and grow ever more malicious i wrote this commentary for @projectsyndicate.bsky.social outlining this deepening threat along Europe's soft underbelly and the European imperative to start combatting it
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
Russia’s Libya Strategy Threatens Europe
Tarek Megerisi urges European leaders to take steps to counter the Kremlin’s expanding influence on its southern flank.
www.project-syndicate.org
July 23, 2025 at 8:26 AM
With Russia's Libya presence continuing to grow and grow ever more malicious i wrote this commentary for @projectsyndicate.bsky.social outlining this deepening threat along Europe's soft underbelly and the European imperative to start combatting it
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
Genuine question for the IHL folk on here. If you train a force notorious for committing war crimes does that make you complicit, share in liability, for any post-training war crimes they then go on to commit?
www.ilpost.it/2025/07/24/s...
www.ilpost.it/2025/07/24/s...
I soldati libici di Haftar vengono addestrati nelle basi militari italiane - Il Post
Lo ha ricostruito il Post: ma l’Italia riconosce come legittimo solo l’altro governo libico, e proprio Haftar due settimane fa aveva umiliato il ministro Piantedosi
www.ilpost.it
July 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Genuine question for the IHL folk on here. If you train a force notorious for committing war crimes does that make you complicit, share in liability, for any post-training war crimes they then go on to commit?
www.ilpost.it/2025/07/24/s...
www.ilpost.it/2025/07/24/s...
Reposted by Tarek Megrisi
📰 For @projectsyndicate.bsky.social, @tmegrisi.bsky.social explores how Russia's alliance with Libya's Haftar family has created a criminal network which enables Russia to weaponise migration against Europe and sow political discord across the continent 👇 buff.ly/hgd0FO5
July 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
📰 For @projectsyndicate.bsky.social, @tmegrisi.bsky.social explores how Russia's alliance with Libya's Haftar family has created a criminal network which enables Russia to weaponise migration against Europe and sow political discord across the continent 👇 buff.ly/hgd0FO5
With Russia's Libya presence continuing to grow and grow ever more malicious i wrote this commentary for @projectsyndicate.bsky.social outlining this deepening threat along Europe's soft underbelly and the European imperative to start combatting it
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
Russia’s Libya Strategy Threatens Europe
Tarek Megerisi urges European leaders to take steps to counter the Kremlin’s expanding influence on its southern flank.
www.project-syndicate.org
July 23, 2025 at 8:26 AM
With Russia's Libya presence continuing to grow and grow ever more malicious i wrote this commentary for @projectsyndicate.bsky.social outlining this deepening threat along Europe's soft underbelly and the European imperative to start combatting it
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...
An important reminder that any global order doesnt necessarily die by losing the adherence of the few superpowers, but by the indifference of everyone else who adopt "pole politics" and a law of the jungle that ultimately condemns us all in this era of global crisis foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/11/b...
Bring Back the Spirit of Bandung
The 1955 conference’s value-based approach to international affairs offers a model for middle powers today.
foreignpolicy.com
July 20, 2025 at 10:24 AM
An important reminder that any global order doesnt necessarily die by losing the adherence of the few superpowers, but by the indifference of everyone else who adopt "pole politics" and a law of the jungle that ultimately condemns us all in this era of global crisis foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/11/b...
Reposted by Tarek Megrisi
There's a reason why at sea interceptions have been limited, they kill people. We're talking about scared individuals seeking safety. Slashing boats and interceptions doesn't stop them making journeys. Any lives lost are on British and French governments shouders.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Leaked document shows boat slashing failed to stop migrants reaching UK
Coastguard log raises new concerns over safety and viability of flagship policy to intercept dinghies crossing Channel
www.theguardian.com
July 20, 2025 at 8:36 AM
There's a reason why at sea interceptions have been limited, they kill people. We're talking about scared individuals seeking safety. Slashing boats and interceptions doesn't stop them making journeys. Any lives lost are on British and French governments shouders.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Last week I spoke with @euronews.com about the 'team Europe' delegation getting PNG'd by a warlord in eastern Libya, and the flaws in Europe's Libya policy that were exposed by this farce.
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Should the European Union hold talks with Khalifa Haftar?
Officially, Brussels is cooperating with the government of national unity based in Tripoli. However, exchanges are also taking place with General Khalifa Haftar, who controls large swaths of Libya's e...
www.euronews.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Last week I spoke with @euronews.com about the 'team Europe' delegation getting PNG'd by a warlord in eastern Libya, and the flaws in Europe's Libya policy that were exposed by this farce.
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Sportswashing isn't just for the Gulf
July 14, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Sportswashing isn't just for the Gulf
While we're all distracted by Israel's rampage, Libya is quietly ratcheting up in importance and impact.
An item on Meloni-Macron talks, reconvening of Berlin and now again at the EUs FAC.
But for all the movement, Libya still lacks leadership, meaning the destsbilising vacuum only grows
An item on Meloni-Macron talks, reconvening of Berlin and now again at the EUs FAC.
But for all the movement, Libya still lacks leadership, meaning the destsbilising vacuum only grows
June 24, 2025 at 10:20 AM
While we're all distracted by Israel's rampage, Libya is quietly ratcheting up in importance and impact.
An item on Meloni-Macron talks, reconvening of Berlin and now again at the EUs FAC.
But for all the movement, Libya still lacks leadership, meaning the destsbilising vacuum only grows
An item on Meloni-Macron talks, reconvening of Berlin and now again at the EUs FAC.
But for all the movement, Libya still lacks leadership, meaning the destsbilising vacuum only grows
Reposted by Tarek Megrisi
Trump announced ceasefire between US/Israel v. Iran. @ecfr.eu's Ellie Geranmayeh unpacks in @financialtimes.com op-ed how to now pivot to diplomacy: #Trump must shift away from maximalist demands that opened door to war & #Iran will need to show flexibility 👇 www.ft.com/content/d9c2...
Trump and Tehran can still make a deal
If Iran shows flexibility and Washington backs off maximalist demands, a regional quagmire could be averted
www.ft.com
June 24, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Trump announced ceasefire between US/Israel v. Iran. @ecfr.eu's Ellie Geranmayeh unpacks in @financialtimes.com op-ed how to now pivot to diplomacy: #Trump must shift away from maximalist demands that opened door to war & #Iran will need to show flexibility 👇 www.ft.com/content/d9c2...