Key facts
- Libya's eastern government has banned nationals from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia from entering the country.
- The decree prohibits entry through all land, sea, and air ports.
- Exemptions are provided for diplomatic and consular staff, as well as workers in education and healthcare professions.
- Libya is a transit route for over 900,000 migrants and refugees seeking to reach Europe.
Authorities based in the eastern part of Libya have banned entry for people from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The move is likely intended to curb the flow of migrants using the country as a departure point for journeys to Europe. The ban, announced late Tuesday, prohibits citizens from these four nations from entering Libyan territory via any land, sea, or air ports.
Exemptions to the ban will be made for diplomats and workers in the health and education sectors. The statement from the government cited a reorganization of foreign nationals' entry procedures as the reason for the decree.
Libya has been a key transit point for migrants seeking to reach Europe since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, with thousands dying during the perilous sea journey. According to the United Nations, there are more than 900,000 migrants and refugees in Libya, with Sudanese forming the largest group. Migrants intercepted and returned to Libya often face abuses in government-run detention centers.