On Wednesday, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) advised against all travel to Libya, according to a statement published on the GOV.UK website.
In its statement, the UK FCDO said: “This advice has been in place consistently since 2014. If you’re in Libya against this advice, you should seek to leave immediately by any practical means.”
“All travel to, from and within Libya is at the traveller’s risk. Local security situations are fragile and can quickly deteriorate into intense fighting and clashes without warning,” it added.
Notably, the Libyan Parliament has voted in favour of designating the British Ambassador to Tripoli, Caroline Hurndall, “persona non grata.”
The Parliamentary Spokesman, Abdullah Blaiheg stated that they took the decision based on Hurndall’s recent statements. “The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be notified to take the necessary measures, and notify the concerned authorities.”
The statement was made by the United Kingdom’s Embassy in Libya, claiming that it will continue to recognize the Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, “as the authority tasked with leading Libya to elections and does not endorse the establishment of parallel governments or institutions.”
The Embassy’s statement was seen as a violation of Libyan sovereignty, interference in its internal affairs, and an obstruction of the country’s political roadmap.
In response, the Libyan Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee accused the UK Ambassador, Caroline Hurndall of violating diplomatic norms and unwarranted interference. The committee said that only the Parliament– which has been accused of seeking to delay and even disrupt the elections – could decide on the role of the interim government. Some tribes went further, calling for the Ambassador to be expelled.
Earlier, a large number of Libyan journalists, politicians, and activists have called for the expulsion of Ambassador Hurndall.