fr flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by AFP.

Barely arrived in Benghazi, a commissioner and ministers summoned to leave

by AI | 08.Jul 2025 | Europe in brief AI

A European commissioner and Greek, Italian, and Maltese ministers, who had just arrived in Benghazi on Tuesday for a visit, were ordered upon their arrival at the airport to return by the authorities of Eastern Libya.

The European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner (on the left) and the Swedish Minister for Migration Johan Forssell. (Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT)

Tripoli – The Libyan Eastern government condemned a “flagrant violation of diplomatic norms” and indicated that it had informed the European Commissioner for Migration and the accompanying ministers, who arrived in Benghazi, that their visit was canceled and that they must “leave Libyan territory immediately.”

Commissioner Magnus Brunner, the Italian and Maltese Interior Ministers, Matteo Piantedosi and Byron Camilleri, as well as the Greek Minister for Migration, Thanos Plevris, are considered “persona non grata,” according to a statement signed by Oussama Hamad, head of the Eastern government.

In another statement, Mr. Hamad announced on Sunday that a visa was mandatory for members of diplomatic missions and international organizations and that they must “refrain from any official meeting or visit in Libya without prior agreement” from his government.

European officials had met in the morning in Tripoli with the head of the national unity government, Abdelhamid Dbeibah, to discuss illegal immigration. (July 8, 2025)