Libyan parliament-appointed government head Osama Hammad issued a decision on Wednesday banning entry of Afghan and Iranian citizens into Libyan territory. The decision stipulates the prohibition of entry of nationals of the two countries through all land, sea, and air borders, with immediate deportation of all citizens holding these nationalities who do not possess a valid residence permit.
The decision stipulates an exception for members of accredited diplomatic and consular missions to Libya and their family members covered by diplomatic privileges. It also exempts workers in education, medical, and auxiliary medical professions, provided they obtain the necessary approvals and employment contracts from the competent ministry.
For his part, Hammad directed the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with relevant authorities, to immediately begin implementing the provisions of the decision. He called for disseminating the order to border crossings and taking immediate measures to deport citizens holding the aforementioned nationalities who do not possess valid residence permits. Hammad did not clarify the reasons for this decision, although his controlled areas in the east and south of the country have witnessed extensive security campaigns in recent months targeting the presence of irregular migrants.
Sources indicated that there are two governments in Libya: the first is the internationally recognized Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and based in the capital Tripoli. The second is the government appointed by the House of Representatives, led by Osama Hammad and based in the city of Benghazi, which administers eastern Libya and most southern cities. Hammad’s government previously issued a decision in June last year banning entry of citizens from four African countries: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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