On Monday, the UN Security Council Committee concerning Libya decided to lift the travel ban placed on Aisha Gaddafi, the daughter of Libya’s late leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
The decision was reached on 16 October 2023, and Aisha will no longer be subject to the travel restrictions imposed on her.
However, the UN said in a statement that the asset-freeze measures outlined in the relevant resolutions will remain enforced.
“This change is in response to the following amendments to the Committee’s List,” the statement said.
“The reason cited for her listing was her close association with the regime, particularly her travel activities, which were found to be in violation of paragraph 15 of resolution 1970,” it added.
In May, the Committee granted a six-month humanitarian travel exemption for Gaddafi’s widow Safia Farkash, Aisha, and his son Mohamed.
In a statement, the Security Council said that the three individuals would be allowed to travel for humanitarian purposes from 1 June through 30 November 2023.
“Under the humanitarian travel exemption granted, travel information shall be provided by the aforementioned individuals for information purposes of the Committee prior to, and within one month after travel,” the UNSC explained.
“Accordingly, these three individuals of the Gaddafi family may undertake unlimited travel for humanitarian purposes during the above-mentioned time frame,” it added.
The UNSC added that the Committee may consider extending or renewing the exemption if circumstances warrant.
The Security Council resolution obliges countries that allow them to travel to or transit through their territories, to notify the relevant Security Council committee within 24 hours of their arrival or transit, by written notification, including the date of their entry and the expected duration of their stay.
The Security Council may suspend the travel ban exemption if the specified conditions are not met, according to the statement.
In 2011, the UNSC Sanctions Committee banned Farkash from travelling outside Libya and ordered all of her foreign assets to be seized. “As of June 24, 2011, the (sanctions) committee listed two individuals as subject to the travel ban and assets freeze and one entity as subject to the assets freeze,” Portugal’s UN Ambassador, Jose Filipe Moraes Cabral said.
The travel ban was lifted on all three family members in December 2020. The family had fled to Algeria in August 2011, as rebel forces seized Tripoli, and were later granted asylum in Oman.
Another of Gaddafi’s sons, Saadi, fled to Niger in September 2011. Mutassim and another two of Gaddafi’s sons were killed in the 2011 conflict — Saif Al-Arab died in a NATO airstrike, while Khamis was killed during fighting in August.