Libya’s eastern administration bars entry to Iranians, Afghans

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 30, 2026

Libya’s eastern administration has expanded its entry ban to include nationals of Iran and Afghanistan, blocking their access through all ports and continuing earlier restrictions on certain African countries. This move could significantly affect migration flows through Libya, a major transit hub for migrants heading to Europe, and complicate efforts to regulate cross-border movement in the region.

Libya’s eastern-based administration announced on Wednesday that it is barring entry to nationals of Iran and Afghanistan through all land, sea, and air ports. The decision extends restrictions previously imposed in June on migrants from four African countries: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

The government, which is based in Benghazi and aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar, made the announcement via a statement on its official Facebook page. It did not provide a specific reason for the expanded restrictions. The statement designated the Ministry of Interior as responsible for enforcing the ban and for deporting Iranian and Afghan nationals who do not hold valid residence permits.

Libya has long served as a transit hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe, particularly following the 2011 toppling of former leader Muammar Gaddafi amid a NATO-backed uprising. Since 2014, the country has been divided between rival administrations—the Benghazi-based eastern government allied with Haftar, and the internationally recognized government of Abdulhamid Dbeibah, based in Tripoli, which assumed power through a UN-supported process in 2021.

The June entry ban on nationals from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia was described by the eastern administration as part of a “reorganisation of foreign nationals’ entry” into Libya. The latest measures maintain exemptions for members of accredited diplomatic and consular missions and their families, as well as workers in the medical and educational sectors, provided that they have obtained the necessary work authorizations.

According to United Nations data from June, Libya hosts over 900,000 migrants, a reflection of its role as a key transit point for people fleeing conflict and economic hardship in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The new restrictions may further impact the dynamics of migration through the region as well as ongoing efforts to manage the flow of migrants into Europe.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.