The Ministry of Interior was also reported to have decided on the 22nd of January 2013 that all foreign visitors to Libya now require Libyan entry visa, without exception, including Tunisian and Turkish nationals who previously did not require visa. [2]. All work applications submitted by Libyan companies will now have to be submitted to the Interior Ministry for approval and identification, as well as to determine if such workers are in actual terms "needed" in the country.
The official website of the Ministry of Interior (http://moi.gov.ly/) does not seem to provide any news regarding this matter (as of the 27th of January 2013), and government officials are yet to confirm the reasons for the sudden decision.
It was reported however that the decision was intended to tighten security measures against organised trafficking in "human beings" and illegal cross-border "culture". New Quryna [3] has speculated the unconfirmed rumours that some "Syrians and Iranians" were implicated in spreading "Shia" in Libya, after undisclosed number of Syrian and Iranian nationals were arrested with fake passports.
It was reported however that the decision was intended to tighten security measures against organised trafficking in "human beings" and illegal cross-border "culture". New Quryna [3] has speculated the unconfirmed rumours that some "Syrians and Iranians" were implicated in spreading "Shia" in Libya, after undisclosed number of Syrian and Iranian nationals were arrested with fake passports.
Coming just a few weeks before the February anniversary, the sudden decision may well come as a precaution to prepare for a peaceful celebration. Two days later, violence broke out in Egypt to celebrate the 25th of January revolution, which many Egyptians say has failed to deliver their hopes and expectations and even made the situation worse than before. With many Libyans feeling about the same, the precaution is necessary; but leaving the border open for Egyptian nationals may not necessarily prevent any of the aforementioned speculations.
Benghazi: two days later, on the 24th of January 2013, Germany Netherlands and England urged all their diplomats and nationals to leave Benghazi immediately. Reuters has said that the German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters that "The warning was made because of a series of bits of information", which he declined to reveal because "security is the most important thing" [4]. The stability of Libya and the security of the Libyans themselves begs for such "information" to be shared with the Libyan authority, and if transparency is on the table, with the whole world.
Devastated Libyan Interior Ministry was flabbergasted, to say the least, when it was reported by LANA to have not received any notification from the British Foreign Office (FCO); and its humble request for an "explanation" from the British Embassy was met with no answers [5]. The deputy interior minister for security affairs was also astonished by the allies' decision when he suggested the British could have withdrew their nationals discreetly, without creating such "unjustifiable" provocation [6].
According to Libya Herald, however, the British embassy felt it was not "an over-reaction" [3]; even though Air Malta was reported elsewhere to have cancelled its scheduled flights to Benghazi in response to the "advice" given by the British FCO. Regarding the sensitive bits of information, it was reported by Libya Herald, five days later (on the 27th of January 2013), that the British Ambassador Michael Aron has said that "the Libyan government . . . [has] the same information that we do”; and that “We understand that the majority in Libya and Benghazi are against terrorism" [9].
Italy has already withdrew its diplomatic staff from Benghazi last week, after its consul was reported to have been attacked but was unhurt. Spain on the other hand had advised its nationals in Algeria to be "vigilant" when venturing outdoors; with Australia urging its community not to fight in Syria neither for nor against the "Lion"; and with Japan closing its embassy in Mali.
Summary:
- Tourist visa still is suspended.
- Transit visa still is suspended.
- Business visa on arrival is now (said to be) available only from the embassy.
- Tripoli airport remains open to foreign nationals, with Benghazi airport remaining an optional risk, with the Libyan government stating that security measures are implemented in the city.
- Land border with Egypt is closed for all foreigners except Egyptian nationals.
- Unpredictable land border with Tunisia remained open only for Libyans and Tunisians (once proper documentation is provided), until the 27th of January 2013, when LANA [8] reported that the border is now open for travellers in both directions, once more.
- Southern borders are closed after declaring the region a military zone, with prime minister Zidan is out to blast outlaws exploiting Libya's fragile and unfolding tragedy.
- Security remains a (predictable) consequence, rather than an issue, ever since the presumed liberation was declared prematurely while homes were still being shelled.
- Road accidents are on the increase.
- Crime and corruption is sky rocketing, with shoulder rockets rather than with tiny pistols, with some branches, according to Libya Herald and others, rising by nearly 500%, such as theft and murder [7]; as well as financial corruption, officially blamed for admitted "lack of bureaucracy".
- The Libyan Sahara remains out of range, perhaps for a some time to come.
- The Libyan leaders however, and seemingly their foreign friends, remain unable to even draft a constitution, build a government, reinstate the army, form a police force, establish security, or even effect the illusive and all inclusive protection of civilians.
References:
http://www.lana-news.ly/Para/news/view/12055/وزارة_الداخلية_تصدر_تعميما_يقضي_بمنع_دخول_الأجانب_للأراضي_الليبية_عبر_منفذ_أمساعد_البري_وتستثني_حاملي_الجنسية_المصرية
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/23/major-visa-changes-planned-tunisians-turks-and-jordanians-will-be-affected/
http://www.qurynanew.com/48039
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/us-britain-benghazi-threat-idUSBRE90N0JM20130124
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/24/quit-benghazi-advice-is-overreaction/
http://www.presssolidarity.net/وكيل-وزارة-الداخلية-التحذير-البريطان/
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/09/murder-rate-up-500-in-two-years/
http://www.lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/12413/إعادة_افتتاح_المنفذ_الحدودي_رأس_اجدير_أمام_حركة_المسافرين_في_الاتجاهين
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/27/british-ambassador-explains-decision-to-withdraw-from-benghazi/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/20/david-cameron-algerian-hostage-crisis
