Libya bans entry for citizens of four African nations

Libya has banned entry for people from four nearby African countries, a move likely meant to stem the influx of migrants seeking to set off for Europe from the country's northern coast.

The ban, announced late Tuesday, says citizens of Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia are “prohibited from entering Libyan territory through all land, sea, and airports.” The government statement said exemptions will be made for diplomats and workers in the health and education sectors.

Libya's coast is a key departure point for migrants from North Africa trying to reach European shores for a better life there. They are typically packed by smugglers into small and unsafe boats, with thousands dying during the perilous sea journey.

Tensions have risen in the last few months inside the North African country against the resettlement of refugees from other countries. There have been mass crackdowns on refugees, with thousands arrested, according to Amnesty International.

Intercepted boats

According to the United Nations, there are more than 900,000 migrants and refugees in Libya, with Sudanese being the biggest group. Many of these migrants are vying for Europe but boats are regularly intercepted and sent back to Libya.

Libyan protesters in early June stormed a UN mission office west of the capital, Tripoli, over reports of migrant resettlement in the country.

Videos circulated by activists on social media showed protesters entering the UN mission's headquarters in Tripoli's Janzour area.

Irregular migration is active in northwestern Libya, along the Mediterranean coast, particularly in the cities of Qarabulli, Sabratha, and Zuwara, with smuggling groups exploiting the country's political divisions and security challenges.