Libya's Government Bans Entry of Citizens from Iran, Yemen, and Pakistan

The internationally recognized Libyan government, based in the east of the country, announced on Tuesday, September 10, that it has banned the entry of citizens from Yemen, Iran, and Pakistan. This action follows a previous visa ban for citizens from Sudan, Bangladesh, the Palestinian territories, and Syria. The Iranian government has not yet responded to the ban on its citizens entering Libya. According to Reuters, Abdullah al-Thani, the Prime Minister of Libya, currently governs only one province in eastern Libya after a rival group took control of Tripoli a year ago. His government is recognized by international organizations as the only legitimate government in Libya. Reuters reports that the Libyan government and its allied security forces can only impose restrictions on the entry of the mentioned citizens at the airports of Tobruk and Labraq in the east of the country, as well as in areas bordering Egypt. Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, who is an ally of the legitimate Prime Minister, has signed the ban on the entry of Yemeni, Pakistani, and Iranian citizens into the country. He cited 'security conditions' and the need to maintain 'national security and stability' as reasons for the new restrictions. Reuters states that the Libyan National Army's statement reiterated the ban on the entry of Bangladeshi and Sudanese citizens into Libya. Khalifa Haftar has repeatedly accused citizens from Sudan, Palestine, and Syria of intending to join the extremist group Ansar al-Sharia and other Islamist groups. He has also identified Yemenis as having similar motives. The legitimate Prime Minister of Libya stated in September 2014 that Sudan attempted to provide weapons and munitions to the new rulers of Tripoli. The Sudanese government has denied this accusation.