This article examines how European Union (EU) migration externalization is perceived and negotiated in southern Libya. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2022–2023 in Kufra and across the Fezzan, it analyses how geographically concentrated migration cooperation shapes grievances, governance and political dynamics. While EU engagement prioritizes coastal institutions, southern actors describe themselves as the ‘frontline’ of irregular migration, yet are excluded from decision-making arenas. Externalization operates within a hybrid conflict economy where control over mobility generates revenue and leverage and intersects with regional and racial marginalization. The article highlights the intra-state ‘rippling effects’ of migration externalization.
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