Just days before the launch of “Tripoli Media Days,” a major event that the Government of National Unity claims will promote media freedoms, journalists in the capital have received direct threats warning that their press permits will be revoked if they fail to cover all government activities in 2026.
According to many press reports, the message was issued late Wednesday by Badr Shaniba, Director of the Foreign Information Department at the Libyan Foreign Ministry.
According to journalists who viewed the message in a WhatsApp group used for official communication, Shaniba stated that all accredited media institutions are “obligated” to attend and cover every government announcement circulated through his department.
He warned that any outlet or correspondent who does not comply will not have their 2026 press accreditation renewed, and those already granted renewal risk having their credentials withdrawn. He justified the directive by claiming that the department facilitates journalists’ work and protects them from interference, suggesting that full coverage is expected in return.
The Foreign Media Department, established several years before 2011, oversees the activities of international media inside Libya and monitors the content they produce. Since the 2011 uprising, the department has increasingly adopted restrictive practices described by journalists as arbitrary, heavy-handed, and designed to limit independent coverage.
Many reporters argue that these policies have grown more aggressive under the influence of State Minister for Political Affairs and Communication, Walid Al-Lafi, who is widely accused of tightening control over the press.
The message immediately sparked outrage. Political activist Khalil Al-Hassi condemned the directive as blatant “political extortion,” noting the contradiction between threatening journalists while preparing to host an event that supposedly defends press freedom.
“Tripoli Media Days” is scheduled to begin on 9 December and will run for three days.
Journalists speaking anonymously said the message reflects a dangerous escalation. “This is a direct threat,” one reporter said. “We work according to our editorial policies, not the government’s agenda.” Another correspondent suggested the order was driven by Al-Lafi’s known efforts to pressure and intimidate media professionals.