Eastern Libya Orders Deportation of EU Migration Delegation over Entry Violations

A delegation comprising EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner and interior ministers from Italy, Greece, and Malta was denied entry and declared persona non grata by Libya's eastern government based in Benghazi. The eastern authorities, aligned with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, accused the delegation of violating Libyan sovereignty and diplomatic protocols, particularly because the delegation had first visited the rival western government in Tripoli, which is internationally recognized. This diplomatic incident underscores the ongoing division within Libya between the eastern Government of National Stability and the western Government of National Unity. The delegation had intended to discuss migration issues and border security, focusing on curbing illegal migrant departures from Libya to Europe. The expulsion highlights the complexities in cooperation between Libya and European nations on migration amid Libya's fractured political landscape and continuing challenges with migrant flows. This event may further complicate efforts to establish a unified approach to migration and security in the region.