Key facts
- Entry of Iranian and Afghan nationals banned by Libya's eastern administration.
- The ban applies to all land, sea, and air ports.
- Exemptions are in place for accredited diplomatic and consular missions, and those in medical and educational professions with work authorizations.
Libya's administration based in the east has prohibited Iranian and Afghan nationals from entering the country via any port, according to a statement released late on Wednesday. The government did not specify a reason for the new entry ban. This measure follows a similar restriction imposed in June on nationals from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The ban exempts members of accredited diplomatic and consular missions and individuals working in medical and educational fields who possess work permits. Libya has been divided between rival governments in the east and west since 2014, and has served as a transit route for migrants heading to Europe since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.