Libya Tourism News : visa updates & restrictions,
travel news, developments & arts
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Libyan Visa Update (5):
05 December
2011:
Visa: our visa services remain suspended.
Border: Ras Ejdir and Dehiba border checkpoints
with Tunisia are closed.
War: a recent shooting incident
at Ras Ejdir, between Libyan militiamen and border guards, forced the authorities
from both sides to close the border point. The checkpoint at Dehiba is also closed
after clashes with militiamen. Libya's ambassador in Tunis warned that there
are those individuals who want to create divisions between Libya and Tunisia.
A number of fights also broke out in a number of cities including Tripoli, Janzur,
and Bani Walid. Ashraf al-Marni Swayha, deputy head of Janzur's NTC military
council, was shot dead by Zintan rebels at a checkpoint in Janzur on Friday the
2nd of December 2011; the locals responded by destroying the headquarters of
the Zintan forces in Janzur and burning their vehicles. On the 24th of November
2011, 16 people lost their lives during a battle in Souq al-Juma'a,
Tripoli, between locals and fighters from Bani Walid. Several people also lost
their lives in a gunfight in Bani Walid after a militia from Tripoli entered
Bani Walid in an attempt to arrest suspects. A heavy battle, lasting over three
days, broke out in Zawiya, with fighters using heavy weapons including missiles,
rockets and anti-aircraft artillery, resulting in a number of casualties,
but the NTC intervened and brought the situation under
control.
Libyan Visa Update (4):
15 November
2011:
Visa: please note that for safety
reasons our visa services are currently suspended until further notice. Due to
fighting breaking out again along the costal areas including Tripoli and Zawiya
the overall situation remains fluid. Coastal areas were said to be safe before,
but now this seems to be far from true.
One of The Largest Thefts
of Archaeological Material in History: Benghazi Treasure, Libya:
31 October 2011:
At the outset Libyans and their allies proclaimed Libya is different from Iraq
and promised its archaeological heritage will be safe from prying eyes. While
Libyans still healing their "deepest wounds", “one
of the largest thefts of archaeological material in history" is unfolding
before Odysseus' eyes.
(1)
Reuters yesterday wrote a report
illustrating the ransacking and looting of Libya's priceless archaeological heritage
in Benghazi. Criminals, murderers, thieves, rapists and the lot were freed
from prisons early on during the uprising.
Stalin-like robbers, "some would say rats", armed either with
jackhammers or claw hammers amidst darkness stormed the bank, as if they knew,
and dug a hole as they bored their way through reinforced concrete of the protected
bank. Vaults of rare gold and silver coins, vintage jewellery,
ancient marble statuettes, including that of Love-god Cupid, freed open
and the inanimate occupants secretly crawled their way to revolutionary Egypt's
souks and Europe's privileged dealers of both gray and black markets of the powerful
industrial revolution. At least 8000 pieces were robbed and quickly sold, as
if the buyers also knew. The good news is that deep beneath the robbed bank there
still remains in a trashed room an untouched vault the robbers failed to seize,
leaving behind a chisel jammed between solid steel and coalescent concrete.
(2)
On the following day of Reuters report, the Art Newspaper (Issue 229,
November 2011) wrote in its website: "Interpol confirms Libyan treasure
was looted."
The report says that the Benghazi Treasure was stolen
from the bank on the 25th of May 2011 and that Interpol had alerted police. Apparently
two padlocked second world war military chests and a safe were stored in the
vaults of the National Commercial Bank, in Omar al-Mukhtar Street, in the centre
of Benghazi; safekeeping 306 pieces of ancient jewellery,
2433 silver coins, 364 gold coins, 4484 bronze coins, and 43 other antiquities
including statues of bronze, glass and ivory, embossed heads and a plaque depicting
a battle among many other "Things", have gone.
For some reason, nearly three months after the uprising started
in Benghazi, and while the city was awash with NTC forces, SAS and Special Forces,
an unauthorised decision was made somewhere in that city, or elsewhere, to
move the treasure to another bank nearby Dujal Hotel in Benghazi. Well, only
one chest arrived; the fate of the other containers is presumably known only
to the drivers. Italian archaeologist Serenella Ensoli suspects the thieves had
moved all the unwanted items to the chest that happen to arrive at its new destination,
while all the gold, silver, ancient jewellery and other valuable material were
driven to their intended destination.
The Benghazi Treasure has never been displayed in Libya. Its
contents come from the various archaeological sites and temples in Cyrenaica.
It seems that all the finest finds and valuable items ended up in the treasure
the Libyans never saw; and therefore is a loss beyond scope.
As if pre-planned
armed conflicts go hand in hand with archaeological robberies and human rights
abuses, the Benghazi Treasure was shipped to Italy in 1942/1943,
during the Italian and allied wars in Libya which the Cyrenaican then heavily
resisted. The priceless chests eventually ended up in Val Brenta, in
the Dolomites, in May 1944. Seventeen years later the same treasure was
said to have been returned to Libya, although there is no way any one can verify
the exact same contents were actually returned - not that that matters so
much now after the treasure had disappeared again, during conflict again.
There was no attempt by either the King's or Gaddafi's
government to fully document and safeguard the mostly-pagan treasure, and so
there it remained in the bank awaiting its obfuscated destiny and intrusive
opportunists. The disaster is that most of the finest finds found and discoveries
made during the last 50 years or so were also added to the same cursed Treasure
of Benghazi and therefore its final content is well beyond sheer imagination.
Only Tantalus perhaps can see what seems to be no more than a well-planned operation -
an ill-played illusion.
Whether the robbers were in a hurry or the operation was a
selective inside job is hard to say; although Hafed Walada, a Libyan archaeologist
from King’s College, in London, suspects
the latter. Quoted by the Telegraph he says that the treasure is known only to
a very few people and that the robbers had even ignored cash that was in the
vaults; while The London Evening Post wrote: "The
Benghazi raid had occurred soon after an arson attack on the bank. At first this
was believed to have been part of the uprising . . . but it may have been linked
to the well organised robbery."
NTC's Fadel Ali Mohammed was the chairman of the archaeology
department in Benghazi and did report the operation to
the attorney-general on the 2nd of June 2011, as well as he sought assistance
from Italy's FM Franco Frattini. However, Hafed Walda, a Libyan archaeologist
based at King’s College London, was quoted by the London Evening Post to have
said that "Fadel Ali
Mohammed . . . first raised the alarm with
the United Nations heritage watchdog UNESCO in July". *** While
The Telegraph says "Libya's National Transitional Council is believed
to have kept it quiet for fear of tarnishing their image at a time when they
were engaged in a desperate battle for survival against the regime of Col Muammar
Gaddafi." ****
It's a disaster," said Yussuf Ben Nasr, director of antiquities for
the city of Benghazi, Reuters wrote. *
British "Libyan antiquities" expert
Paul Bennet says it was the biggest theft he has seen.
UNESCO's Irina Bukova
declared the operation "“one of the largest
thefts of archaeological material in history." **
But to a son of Satan
the whole thing is no more than human nature of insane revenge and biological
desire.
Air Travel Ban Lifted: the NTC,
the sole legitimate representative of the aspiration of the Libyan people, has
requested from the UN to extend NATO's operation in Libya until the end of the
year, but the UN Security Council has unanimously voted against their wish and
ended its military operation in Libya and cancelled its no-fly zone over Libya
on the 27th of October 2011; despite Saifalislam still being at large and despite
the military operations to "root out" remaining loyalists still underway.
The enforcement of the mandate will expire on the 30th of October, and therefore
all travel restriction will be lifted on the 31st of October 2011. Some international
flights are already operating from both Benghazi and Tripoli airports after the
introduction of "air corridors" on the 13th of October 2011
Visa: visitors still require an
invitation letter from Libya in order to obtain Libyan visa (as previous
update (2)).
Safety: Libya is now declared "Liberated",
just as the NTC had said it will do after the fall of Sert. Fighting in Sert
came to an end on the 20th of October 2011, and therefore we are expecting the
coastal highway between the Tunisian border and the Egyptian border to be declared
safe in the coming days. Some minor military operations are still going on. Threat
from terrorism therefore cannot be excluded yet, as the country still does not
have a police force in place and still is without an army. Once these two forces
are set up they still have the task of securing Libya. And even then individual
acts of violence are difficult to predict, as anywhere else, especially so in
today's volatile Libya where almost every single household is still armed and
as various armed militias and battalions increasingly demand more active roles
in the new government of Libya.
Our Advice: we still strongly advise
against all but unnecessary travel to Libya.
NATO Urges All Libyans To Put Their Differences Aside:
20 October 2011
All Libyans Must Unite & Disarm
NATO & the UN say
a new chapter is beginning in Libya and that all Libyans should put aside their
differences and work together to build a brighter and democratic future. The
next stage they say is to disarm all the various groups and start the democratic
process. NATO said the moment to sign off the operation in Libya is getting closer
after the death of Gaddafi and the fall of Sert and Bani Walid. The NTC is expected
to announce the Liberation of Libya very soon. The true fight to transform Libya
into a regional democracy has just began.
Libyan Visa Update (2):
15 October 2011:
A number of Libyan embassies have confirmed that the Libyan
visa process stays as before. The immigration department in Tripoli also confirmed
that the old visa provisions remain active and that they had no new amendments
as of October 2011. If you apply for a visa via the Libyan embassy they will
most often ask for an "invitation letter", also referred to as "authorisation" or "permission".
The British FCO has also confirmed this requirement on its most recent Libya
visa update (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/libya).
This must be obtained from inside Libya: from a Libyan friend or resident (if
you are applying for visit visa), from a company operating in Libya (if you are
applying for business visa), or from a tour operator (if you are applying for
tourist visa). Tour operators are authorised to process visas on arrival and
they will deal with the letter, the application for entry visa, and everything
else without the need to contact the embassy. All types of visas are issued in
Tripoli by the immigration department, but the Maltese recently said they would
like to see visas issued in Benghazi to facilitate travel between Malta and Benghazi.
We have no official confirmation from the Libyan transitional government regarding
this.
A number of United Nations sanctions are still active, including
the no-fly zone, and therefore a number of related services and offices are not
fully available. To bypass the UN no-flay zone, the Libyan interim transport
minister Anwar el-Feitori and NATO's Lt. General Ralph J. Jodice signed a deal
in Malta on the 13th of October 2011 which allows the establishment of "air
corridors" to be used by civil aviation, between Benghazi and Europe,
and between Benghazi and Mesratha and Tripoli. They do not seem to link the capital
with the rest of the world. The NTC hopes Tripoli airport will open very soon,
as it took command of the airport from the armed rebels of Nafousa Mountain,
who previously were in control of the airport. This means that efforts are underway
to normalise travel procedures in Libya and that time is required to ensure safe
implementation of these procedures.
NTC chairman said Libya and Tunisia are now working together
to tighten security and establish proper control over the Libyan-Tinisian
land border. The agreement came after the reported proliferation of arms
smuggled from Libya, which has become a major concern to both countries and to
the whole region. Media reports speak of a busy black market in arms trade in
southern Tunisia, where a kalashinkov trades for 500 Tunisian Dinars. Travellers
wishing to travel to Libya now should be aware of the possibility of attacks
from armed groups still loyal to the old Libyan government, and need to know
that the Libyan-Tunisian border may become restricted at any time without
notice. The FCO says it had reports of violent incidents along the road to the
Egyptian border. Local reports from Zuwarah also confirm some recent incidents
in southern Tunisia, where Libyans travelling through Tunisia in their own cars
were attacked by loyalists stationed in Tunisia. The Tunisian army had intervened
on the following day and the border area has now been declared safe and under
control. The borders are now open and movement across is normal in both directions.
War is still going on in Libya,
with resistance popping up in new places unexpectedly. The most recent being
today's gun battle in Tripoli's Ben Gheshir (Gheshsheer). Yesterday's clashes
(of the 14th of october 2011) in Tripoli's Abu Salim area started after
around 50 armed men and women appeared and began rising the green flag
while chanting pro-Gaddafi slogans. Exchange of gunfire with armed men loyal
to the NTC ensued shortly afterwards, with journalists reporting smoke rising
in the air and heavy exchange of fire. Earlier in the week, the revolt by Gaddafi's
loyalists in Regdalin and Ejmail in western Libya, near Zuwarah, led to full
scale battle between pro-Gaddafi fighters from around the area of Regdalin and
fighters from Zuwarah's military council and the NTC's army who arrived later
to quash the rebellion. The battle lasted for several days, with GRAD rockets
landing in Zuwarah for a number of days, and heavy exchange of fire. There are
quite a number of towns that are still under Gaddafi's loyalists' control including
Sert, Bani Walid, Zilah and Sabha and therefore security is a big issue, since
no one can anticipate when or where the loyalists might attack next. There are
also reports of Tuareg fighters crossing from Algeria and attacking Ghadames
before returning to Algeria across the border; rising fears of long-term instability
in the desert regions along the land borders with Algeria, Niger and Chad. To
secure this vast track of desert is almost impossible, and even during Gaddafi's
government many of these border regions were closed and declared unsafe. The
new minister of internal affairs, Mr. Ahmed al Dharrat, is setting up a new security
agency in Tripoli, with the aim of rooting-out Gaddafi's loyalists in the towns
under the control of the NTC, and currently there are a number of special forces
operations
"combing" several areas and towns including those the NTC does not
control.
As a result of the clashes in Tripoli in the past couple of
days we are reviewing our advice by strongly advising against all travel to Libya
for the time being. Business and diplomatic visits do not come under travel,
as these missions have their own security arrangements. [End of update (2).]
Libya Visa Update:
01 October 2011
There are a number of individual reports from visitors who
say they had obtained visas on arrival at the border(s), with some entering via
Ras Ejdir while others coming from Emsaad and reaching Benghazi. One report
says that the border visa is restricted and valid only for 15 days. There are
also reports of visas obtained from Libyan embassies, but most of these appear
to have been issued in relation to business and politics; while some embassies
advised to get visa on arrival, just as it was done before via tour operators.
There are even reports of visitors entering Libya with no visa at all, as one
American visitor did in Ras Ejdir where he made a deal with a rebel-guard from
Zuwarah to let him in without a visa in return for the visitor giving him a lift
back to Zuwarah. Even though many of these remain unconfirmed reports, they do
not represent the official view of the transitional government. What is the Transitional
National Council (TNC) has to say in relation to the visa issue?
The new law according to the TNC's Constitutional Declaration:
The TNC has announced on the 3rd of August
2011 a 37-point interim "Constitutional Declaration" to
provide a framework for the transition to an elected government, and to call
for a constitutional assembly within eight months. This Constitutional Declaration
updates the current (or the old) law, and also cancels a number of old laws that
are related to constitutional matters. Article
(35) of
this Declaration specifically states that the law regarding all provisions decreed
in the current legislations stay the same and remain effective as before, until
they are amended or repealed. Here is what it says in Arabic:
TNC's Article (35), Constitutional Declaration.
Translation:
"All the current provisions decreed in the existing
legislations shall continue to be effective, in as much as they do not conflict
with the provisions of this "declaration", until the announcement of
new provisions to amend or repeal them. Each reference in these [old] provisions
to the so-called
"People's Congresses" or the "General People's Congress" shall
be taken as a reference to the "Interim Transitional National Council" or
the "General National Council [Congress]"; each reference to the "General
People's Committee" or the "Peoples' Committees" is a reference
to the "Executive Board" or to the members of the Executive Board or
to the government or to the members of the government, each within his or her
jurisdictional boundaries; and each reference to the (Great Socialist People's
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) shall be deemed as a reference to (Libya)."
What this means is that almost everything stays the same, as
before, with the change of the old names of Libya and its institutions to the
new names, until the TNC completes the transition period and supervises an elected
government. Only the elected government can alter existing laws permanently and
introduce new constitution. We have contacted officials from the immigration
department in Tripoli and they have confirmed that everything stays the same
as before. We will publish any further updates as and when we get them.
Therefore the old visa law should stay the same. In fact Turkey was one of the
first countries to take advantage of this when it reiterated that its citizens
were allowed into Gaddafi's Libya without an entry visa (http://www.independent.com.mt/)
and therefore they do not need any visas to enter new Libya. These issues are
still being addressed, and the following update from the Libyan embassy in Malta
hints at a new visa update to be released by the TNC soon.
.
Libyan Embassy In Malta Issues Libyan Visas:
Libyan ambassador in Malta, Mr. Saadum Suayeh, says he issued
visas to some Maltese on the same day (http://www.timesofmalta.com/),
and that they were issued at his discretion.
But he also emphasised that a visa policy should be in place soon. Business visa
has a different set of procedures from tourist visa in the old law, and probably
it is business visas that the ambassador was issuing from the embassy in Malta,
as he made a clear reference to the Maltese business and political delegations
who plan to visit Libya.
The TNC's Representative in London favours "visa on arrival":
A few days ago, on the 27th of September 2011, Guma al-Gamaty,
speaking to business leaders at the "Libya - The Future" conference
in London, had suggested that Britain and Libya drop entry restrictions for each
others' citizens, and that "Each country should issue
visas on arrival at the airport". He added that the British should
not be worried about Libyans coming over and staying in Britain because most
will be wanting to return home afterwards (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/).
This again indicates that the old system of visa on arrival may well stay
in place in the new system.
Is it safe to travel in Libya?
However, the real issue regarding travel in Libya is not the
visa, but the war. Fierce fighting still is going on in a number of areas across
the central parts of Libya, from coastal Sert and all the way down to Sabha.
There are also a number of reports of old-government loyalists attacking southern
areas, as in the recent attack on Ghadames, and it is impossible to predict where
next they will hit. The irony is that Libya under Gaddafi was considered, together
with Iceland, among the safest countries in the world for tourists to visit,
largely because of Gaddafi's firm grip on all terror groups. Now there is a rising
fear that his troops may become the terror groups themselves. These minor attacks
are not widely reported in the media, since understandably the authorities seek
a quick transition to normality, but the war is far from over. Security is not
yet established across the coast from border to border, especially around the
Sirte area, and also in the southern areas, like Ghadames and the Sahara. Even
Libyans cannot enter Mesratha without an "invitation" from someone
who is a resident of Mesratha - that is Libyans require an "invitation letter" to
visit Mesratha as well as an "escort". We recommend all unnecessary travel
to Libya to be postponed for another month or two, until the TNC announces an
end of fighting And declares certain areas safe for foreign visitors. The Nafousah
Mountain, Ghadames and the Sahara are definitely no-go areas for the time being.
But short visits to Tripolitania, or Cyrenaica would be ideal for the time being.
Crossing tours (from border to border) should wait until Sert (Sirte) is fully
secured. The road from Ras Ejdir to Emsaad is safe and secure except around 200
km between Mesratha and Sert, where fighting is still going on and therefore
the area may be restricted at any given time in the next week or two. All visitors
who intend to visit Libya now should assess these risks and decide if they can
wait or not.
The FCO (British Foreign & Commonwealth
Office) has updated its travel advice to Libya by advising against all
but essential travel to Zuwarah, Azzawiya, Tripoli, Alkhums, Zlitan
and Mesratha, and the coastal towns from Ras Lanuf to the Egyptian Border, including
Benghazi. They still advise against all travel to all other areas in Libya. (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/libya)
End of update.
Libya's TNC Pledges New Regional Model of Democracy, But Excludes
Berber's Official Status:
27/09/2011
One would wonder why the TNC's "Constitutional
Declaration" openly excludes the official status of Berber Language - the
persecuted native language of Libya. The TNC
had announced on the 3rd of August 2011 a 37-point
interim "Constitutional
Declaration" to
provide a framework for the transition to an elected government, and to call
for a constitutional assembly within eight months, with the aim of appointing
a new interim government and writing a new constitution. The appointed interim
government will then supervise an election to elect a new government within 20
months.
So, what does this new "Constitutional
Declaration" say?
Here is an actual copy of Article 01:
Translation:
"Libya
is an independent and democratic country, in it people are the source of power,
its capital is Tripoli, its religion is Islam, Islamic Sharia is its primary
source of legislation, and the country pledges the freedom to practice religious
ceremonies for non-Muslims, and its official language is The Arabic Language,
and the country Libya guarantees the cultural rights for all the components of
the Libyan society and their languages are considered national languages."
Reading
carefully through these words one senses the article was drafted to please the
minorities of Libya rather than give them their full rights and acknowledge them
equally as one of the official peoples of Libya. It says they can practice their
cultural rights, but what about their full citizen rights? Why Arabic is the
only official language of Libya, while Berber is downgraded to a national status?
Why both languages cannot be equal and equally recognised in the New Democratic
Libya. We already saw in an earlier manifesto issued by the TNC
that the TNC's
draft constitution will be subjected to a referendum and it will be passed if
it gains a majority, which may be anything above two thirds. In addition
to the fact that the Berbers will certainly not be able to reach this majority,
Fathi Salem Abu Zakhar, an organiser of the Amazigh conference in Tripoli, says "Language
rights are not a matter that is subject to a vote . . . We want the government,
and the coming government, to grasp that the language is part of the Libyan equation." Reuters
(http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/26/uk-libya-berber-language-idUKTRE78P4RJ20110926).
The Guardian Confirms Vandalising Assaraya Alhamra Museum:
11 September 2011:
In an article titled: "In Tripoli's museum of antiquity only Gaddafi is lost in revolution", the guardian.co.uk confirms the vandalising of the National Museum in Tripoli:
"At 11.30pm on 20 August 2011, as rebels launched their first attack on the Libyan capital, 20 armed men entered the museum . . . the rebels spotted the colonel's vintage cars and, as elsewhere, wreaked their revenge. The windows of the sky blue Beetle were smashed; thousands of shards of glass now lie on the floor . . . The headlamps are also damaged but the period gearstick, glovebox, running boards, speedometer and steering wheel remain intact. Staff at the museum . . . had no choice but to let the rebels enter. Mustafa Turjman, head of research at the national department of archaeology, said: "It was a revolution – you can't resist . . . But the vandalism was swiftly quelled by a plea . . . Although there is graffiti in places and one broken window, just a cloak and a rifle, used in the Libyan resistance against Italian occupation, were stolen."
Looting of Libya's Archaeological Artifacts & Assaraya Museum: is it true?
Last week a number of Internet sites and blogs, including archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com, circulated the claims in that massive looting was underway in Libya, and that NATO bombed Leptis Magna, and that prehistoric art sites were vandalised during the recent events in Libya. The claims originally came from the Russian Nikolai Sologubovsky, apparently a deputy head of a Russian committee of solidarity with the people of Libya and Syria, who told Russian television, without providing any evidence, that al-Jamahiriya National Museum in Tripoli has been looted and antiquities were being shipped out by sea to Europe.
NATO did bomb some locations nearby Leptis Magna and around Zlitan, but there is no evidence that they bombed Leptis itself. Vandalising prehistoric art in Libya is not new, as Temehu.com covered at: http://www.temehu.com/vandalised-rockart.htm, and there is no reason to suppose it will not happen again or it did not happen recently; and if it did then there is nothing new about it. Also we have no evidence regarding the looting of Assaraya Alhamra Museum (referred to as al-Jamahiriya National Museum), but we are very much interested to hear from those who have any evidence to share.
According to http://news.sciencemag.org (Claims of Mass Libyan Looting Rejected by Archaeologists): "The antiquities in the major sites are unscathed," says Hafed Walda, an archaeologist at King's College London, who has been in frequent contact with his Libyan colleagues during the recent arrival of rebels in the capital city last week. "But a few sites in the interior sustained minor damage and are in need of assessments."
It remains puzzling however why the UN's Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has warned international art dealers to keep an eye on archaeological and/or ancient artifacts that may have been smuggled out of Libya, without confirming the looting allegations first. Of course, there is always the possibility that the UN was making a general statement that applies to times of conflict in general and not to this specific claim in Libya. Read what they said exactly here:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/director_general_urges_measures_to_protect_libyas_cultural_heritage_through_period_of_transition/back/18256/
Berber Political Movements In Libya & North Africa
30 August 2011
The term Berberism is generally used to describe the 'the
political movements of the Berber communities in North Africa during the 20th
century'. Berberists are the Berber activists who campaign for greater cultural
and political freedom for the Berbers or Imazighen of North Africa. More
about the history of Berberism in Libya, Algeria, Morocco and the Sahara at: http://www.temehu.com/imazighen/berberism.htm
Berber Language Will Be A Key Issue In New Libya!
27 August 2011:
CNN: The Editor Peter Fragiskatos, in an article published by CNN (in its website, see link below), asks if New Libya will bring new freedom for the Berbers in Libya. In an attempt to answer the question, he points out that, "Over the past few months, they [the Berbers] have secured control over a wide area near the Tunisian border, a strategic position that helped open the way toward Tripoli . . . Libya's Berber minority . . . is engaged in a cultural revival. The teaching of Berber language courses and the airing of radio broadcasts . . . are now openly practiced and Berber activists are adamant about preserving their newfound freedom. How this will play out is anybody's guess. What is clear is that language rights will be a key issue going forward not only in a post-Gadhafi Libya, but also in Morocco and Algeria, where much larger Berber communities live." Read full article at: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/08/26/fragiskatos.berber.language/
Will The NTC Make Berber Language One of The Official Languages of Libya?
24 of August 2011
A distinguished Sky News analyst had pointed out today that although the Berbers of Nafousah Mountain came down from the mountain and helped take Tripoli, the draft document outlined by the Transitional National Council did mention the Berbers' rights and that they will be acknowledged under the new constitution, but it said nothing about making Berber Language as one of the official languages of Libya.
The Berber rebels were part of a larger group of other rebels from Zintan, Gharyan, Zawiya and other surrounding areas, before they were joined by rebels from Mesratha as soon as they entered Tripoli, and finally followed by rebel convoys from all parts of Libya. The Berbers ('Imazighen') are the indigenous inhabitants of Libya before the Arabs arrived in the 7th Century AD, bringing Islam with them. They are also the native inhabitants of all North Africa, from Egypt (Siwa) to Morocco (including the Canary Islands) and from the coast to the Sudan (including Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania).
(1): After the colonial wars of the early 20th century and the subsequent dividing of Africa into new countries, and thereby setting up Libya as a country for the first time in history in 1930s, the Republic of Tripoli (or Tripolitania Republic) was created by the Berber Solaiman al-Barouni (of Yefren, in Nafousah Mountain), in 1917-1918, to become the first ever republic in the Arab world; but for some reason, or another, it did not gain enough support in the 1919 Paris Peace Conference despite being fully recognised by Italy (at the time), and consequently disappeared from the pages of history. The first republic in the Arab world was a Berber republic, but somehow most of the countries that were created at the time in North Africa and the Middle East were kingdoms! Yet all the kingdoms survived but not the only republic!!
(2): Under Gaddafi's government of Libya it is safe to say that the Berbers were denied their unique identity, ignored, and deprived of both their basic human rights and advanced cultural rights. They were allowed to speak their language at home and in public in their own areas, but have no rights, at all, to use their Berber language in education, business or literature; their language is not recognised officially; have no cultural freedom in any sense Arabic has in Libya; and were forced to mould their identity around the Arab form. There were attempts however by some liberal members of the regime to grant the Berbers a greater freedom, especially after the establishment of the Berber Congress elsewhere, like the right to use Berber names and the right to speak freely about the Berber identity, but were soon doomed as they were obstructed by the more conservative elements of Gaddafi's government.
(3): Will today's Libya, the NTC is promising to be fully
democratic in line with Europe's democracy, at last grant the Berbers of Libya
their full and well-deserved rights, including full recognition of their Berber
language Tamazight as one of the official languages of Libya, and also their
full cultural freedom, in line with all free languages of the world like Arabic
and English? Of course, we have heard that the NTC is only a transitional and
temporary group set up to oversee the transition to democratic Libya, but they
did say that they will draft a constitution which will then be put to the Libyan
people to approve, and so it follows that it is important that the self-appointed
rebel leaders draft a constitution that is just for all Libyans and include Berber
Language as one of the official languages of Libya.
It must be noted, however, that contrary to what other pan-Arabists
had said in the past, the Berbers do not seek independence or self-autonomy and
have no intention to divide Libya or any other unity for that matter, because
that was a "misconception" instigated by dictators. Simply, they have been
campaigning, for the past 60 years or so, without any power taking any notice
of them, for recognition and the right to live with dignity as free human beings
under the umbrella of one, and only one, united Libya. We are all Libyans and
we are all equal human beings, in theory. In practice, however, we still are
not, to this day; but we all have great hope and patience that this will change
very soon, once our beloved Libya heals its deepest wounds.
Zuwarah, Libya.
Tourism In North Africa Today: 19 July 2011
Tourism in Egypt, Tunisia and most recently in Libya has been badly hit by the recent turbulent events affecting North Africa today. Both the Egyptian and Tunisian economies largely depend on tourism. Due to "fear", "uncertainty" and "war" most tourists rule out the popular North African destinations in their search of (temporary) paradise. The Egyptian Tourist Authority says Egypt, which had nearly 15 million visitors last year, is loosing around 25 million dollars a day. Libya on the other hand is a rich country and does not depend on tourism as such, but the improvements and advancements it made in recent years to promote tourism and foreign investment have been badly affected by the destructive events currently taking place in the country; not to say that the already-damaged Tunisian economy was further affected by the events in neighbouring Libya. However, where tourism is the issue in Tunisia and Egypt, in Libya life itself is at stake. The UN embargo and the inability of the Libyan government to sell oil have resulted in severe shortages of both food and fuel; leading to prices doubling and even trebling for some products, thereby forcing large number of Libyan families to flee to Tunisia, where life is much cheaper. The United Nations had already warned of a humanitarian disaster and called for a "temporary cease of fire" a while ago to deliver aid.
UNESCO Warns Both NATO and LIBYA It Stands Ready To Play Its Part In Keeping With Article 23 To Protect The Archaeological Heritage Of Libya And Of The World:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/730
Irina Bokova, Unesco's Director-General, calls on both Nato and Libya to respect the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) and its two (1954 and 1999) Protocols, and states that in keeping with Article 23 of the Convention it stands ready to play its part concerning the protection of cultural property. These world heritage site are:
Blue Shield Appeals To Respect The Convention & To Protect World Heritage Sites In Libya:
04/04/2011
Blue Shield (14th of March 2011) expresses its great concern regarding the safeguarding of Libya's archaeological and cultural sites, as well as deplores the extreme suffering and loss of life the war has imposed on the Libyan people. The five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Libya, including the coastal Sabratha, Leptis Magna (near Homs) and Cyrene are so far unharmed by the heavy aerial bombardments and shelling plighting the country for the past two weeks.
Blue Shield has pointed out that:
"Any loss of Libyan cultural property would seriously impoverish the collective memory of mankind. Libya is a party to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict since 1957, and became a party to the Second Protocol of this convention in 2001. The Hague Convention deals with responsibilities regarding cultural heritage in times of armed conflict and the danger of its misuse. The Blue Shield is appealing to all parties involved to respect the stipulations of the Convention and to protect our world cultural heritage."
The Blue Shield:
"The Blue Shield is the protective emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention which is the basic international treaty formulating rules to protect cultural heritage during armed conflicts. The Blue Shield network consists of organisations dealing with museums, archives, audiovisual supports, libraries, monuments and sites."
Note: The term "war" was used here to mean "armed conflict", as opposed to "peace" ("diplomatic dialogue").
Oil-Rich Libya Slashes Local Petrol Prices By 25%:
07 March 2011
Oil-rich Libya has slashed petrol prices in Libya by 25%. The price of one litre of petrol is now 15 pence, down by 5 pence from 20 pence. Also, the Libyan government has issued a new benefit of 500 Libyan Dinars per month to every Libyan family. Heads of families are already queuing outside Libyan banks to claim the benefit. This benefit does not affect the existing benefit of 500 Libyan Dinars per month which unemployed Libyans already claim because of "lack of work".
Current Update: All Our Libyan Visa Services Are Temporarily Suspended:
03 March 2011
This is to inform our customers & visitors that we are currently unable to provide any visa services to Libya and therefore all our tours are currently suspended until further notice. We anticipate all our services to return to normal very soon, and so please stay in touch via this page.
Egyptian-Libyan Border Re-Opened:
07 February 2011
The border between Egypt and Libya is now open for business as usual. Travellers leaving Libya via Emsaad can now continue their journey overland to Egypt as before. The situation in Egypt itself seems to be returning to normal gradually.
Egyptian-Libyan Border Closed:
31st of January 2011
The border between Egypt and Libya is closed. The first we learnt about this is when our visitors who completed their transit tour in Libya were returned immediately after reaching the Egyptian check point beyond Emsaad on the 31st of January 2011. They were refused entry into Egypt and were ordered to return to Libya immediately. It is not known for how long the border will be closed, but it looks set to remain so until the situation in Cairo is defused.
Tunisia's Unrest Settles As Tension Dissipates:
18th of January 2011
The situation in Tunisia looks like it is calming down, as the new government as well as the people of Tunisia are intent to restore relations to normal. Tunisia depends largely on tourism and it is obvious that the nation will not jeopardise its future, especially as its former president fled the country and the leaders appear to have reached a deal to form a new united government very quickly. Shops began to open as before and the people themselves began to help the authorities to protect property and businesses from looting and damage.
Tunisian-Libyan Border: Update On Movement Across The Border:
17th of January 2011
The border area between Libya and Tunisia still is open, and the border movement seems okay as tourists do come in and out of the country as usual. However, the Libyan side of the border is closed at night, probably due to the fact that the border authorities need to prevent cross-border movement of people illegally at night.
Please note that the Libyan side of the border is still open during the day and therefore tourists wishing to enter Libya must do so either in the morning or around midday.
We also hear that the Tunisian police have road blocks between some areas in Tunisia to protect tourists from being attacked while traveling between cities and towns. Otherwise the Tunisian side of the border with Libya is also still open as usual. If you can make it to the Libyan border then your escort will be there to meet you and welcome you into Libya.
Travel Restrictions Affecting The Western Mountain & The Red Hamada:
January 2011
Following the recent local development in the Western Mountain near the Kabaw area the tourism authority decided to close some of the sites for foreign visitors to ensure their safety, and subsequently informed Libyan tour companies about a number of restrictions affecting certain areas, including Kabaw, Yefren and Nalut. Travellers passing by Nalut in the way to Ghadames cannot stop in Nalut but are allowed to drive through. Gharyan, Qasr Al-Haj and the neighbouring areas are not affected. Also in a separate incident al-Hamada al-Hamra is closed for tourists. Travellers who had the Hamada in their itineraries have to drive to Sabha via Qaryat instead. It is not known why nor for how long the ban will stay in force.
A request from the Tourism Police instructing Libyan tour operators to follow the listed restrictions,
namely the border areas and the Murzuq-Acacus route.
Air France may resume flights to Libya, reports France 24.
4th International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destination Muscat, Oman:
The 4th international conference on responsible tourism will be held on Sunday the 10th of October to Monday the 12th of October 2010, at the Intercontinental, Muscat. For further information & programme please see http://www.artyforum.info/rtd4.html.
Liberal Libya: freedom, democracy & tourism: the future is Libyan:
Libya Visa For Americans: Second Update: Yes US Citizens Can Now Obtain Libya Tourist Visa On Arrival:
22 May 2010
We have announced on the 19th of May (see below) that we were attempting to confirm the recent news regarding Libyan visa for Americans. We are now in a position to confirm that the ban was lifted and that Americans are finally allowed to visit Libya on a tourist visa. We can also confirm that we currently do accept applications from American nationals to visit Libya on a tourist visa on arrival. No need to visit any embassies any more.
Latest Update: Libya Appears To Lift Its Visa Ban On Americans: Can The Citizens of USA Obtain Libyan Visa?
19 May 2010
We are currently attempting to confirm the news we heard today in that Libya has finally lifted the visa ban on Americans, among recent changes which envisage Libyan visa laws being relaxed to allow visitors from many countries to visit Libya and see for themselves the new changes planned ahead for New Libya: the Free Libya. If the news is confirmed it would mean that the citizens of the United States of America will now be able to obtain a Libyan tourist visa.
The news first leaked out on the 5th of May, after Saif Al-Islam Muammar Al-Qaddafi was reported to have said, at the American University in Cairo, that “Very, very soon, it will be very easy for many people around the world to visit Libya.” (http://www.oealibya.com/front-page/world-news/17572-2010-05-18-17-59-46).
However, we still do not have 100% confirmation regarding this latest update, but today, the 19th of May 2010, may prove to be a historical day as we have strong indications that the time has finally come for Americans to visit Libya on a tourist visa.
“But soon, very, very soon, it will be very easy for many people around the world to visit Libya.”
Libya Sees Thriving Tourism Industry Ahead
Afriqiyah Airways 8U771 Crash Before Landing At Tripoli Airport
12 May 2010
We deeply offer our condolence to all grieving families affected by the Afriqiyah Airways 8U771 crash at Tripoli Airport last wednesday (May the 12th 2010). Afriqiyah Airways have set up a help line for relatives, the details of which can be found at their website: http://www.afriqiyah.aero/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70
Libyan-Swiss Schengen Visa Saga is Over: The European Union And Libya Have Lifted Their Bans on Granting Visas:
27 March 2010
The European Union and Libya have agreed today Saturday 27 of March 2010 that they will resume granting visas to each others' citizens. All the names of the Libyans black-listed on the Schengen zone have been permanently removed from the list; and likewise Libya has dropped its ban on issuing visas to Schengen-zone Europeans. Official sources say that the Swiss businessman Max Goeldi will be released from prison very soon, and that the lifting of the visa ban comes in the interests of strengthening co-operation with the European Union.
The Swiss are ready to lift their travel restrictions against top-level Libyan officials in return for the Libyans to lift their ban on Schengen citizens travelling to Libya, Bern says.
25 March 2010
The Swiss government has finally indicated that it will lift the ban imposed on some top-level Libyan officials if Libya lifts its ban against European visitors travelling to Libya from the Schengen area. Switzerland also hopes that the businessman Max Göldi, still held in Libya, would be released.
"Switzerland has been persuaded to lift its travel ban against top-level Libyan politicians after talks in Brussels", writes: Euronews.net
"Christa Markwalder, speaker of the foreign affairs committee of the House of Representatives, said she could not make sense of the step agreed by the Swiss government and the European Union on Wednesday", reports Swissinfo.ch
Libya welcomes Gaddafi photo compensation offer.
"A top Libyan has welcomed as a "step forward" an acknowledgment by canton Geneva that damages should be paid to Hannibal Gaddafi after his police photo was published," reports Swissinfo.ch
(http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/foreign_affairs/Libya_welcomes_Gaddafi_photo_compensation_offer.html?cid=8497324)
Italians Say Libyan-Swiss Conflict Must Be Resolved By The 4th of April:
15 March 2010:
It has emerged that the Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini's visit to Libya yesterday appears to signal the beginning of the end to the Shcengen saga.
Talking with his Libyan counterpart, Mousa Kousa, the Italian minister has announced that If Libya and Switzerland fail to resolve their disagreement by the 4th of April 2010, then Italy will propose to its Schengen colleagues to start issuing Schengen visas to the Libyans banned by the Swiss, regardless of whether the Swiss oppose the move or not. The proposal will be presented together with Malta, Spain and Portugal during the Council of European Ministers set to take place next week.
According to Franco Frattini,
"Switzerland's conduct is not in line with the goals of Schengen to keep terrorists and criminals from entering Europe. Using Schengen to put pressure on others to resolve bilateral diplomatic conflicts is not one of these goals".
Tripoli is preparing to host its first Tourist Festival in the Old City around the end of April 2010. The festival is expected to last three days and will include various cultural and tourist activities, with the aim of introducing Libyan tourism and encouraging the development of the various tourist industries required to make tourism in Libya a successful business. Read more at: http://www.oealibya.com/oea-sections/tourism/15834-2010-02-22-17-42-46, or click on the image (below).
The End of The Libyan-Swiss Schengen Visa Saga May Come Sooner Than Expected
2 March 2010
In a speech before the Libyan GPC, in its summit to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the birth of the first Jamahiriya in the world, the Libyan foreign minister Mousa Kousa has indicated that the tension between Libya and Switzerland over the recent issues could come to end very soon.
He has also stated that all Libya wants is an international decision on the matter, issued by an independent committee comprising three legal experts including one from Libya and another from Switzerland. He said that Libya will accept whatever decision is made by the committee, regardless of whether the ruling is in favour of or against Libya.
Source of the news: (http://www.oealibya.com/front-page/local-news/16055-2010-03-02-20-33-43)
EU diplomats Hope For Libya Breakthrough, says Swissinfo.ch:
26 February 2010:
Swissinfo.ch has reported yesterday that the Swiss businessman Max Göldi could be released very soon, and some are even predicting that he could be pardoned by Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi before the middle of March. Swissinfo has also reported that although Spain has managed to reach a “settlement” with Libya, Switzerland must also be prepared to play its part.
Swiss & Libyan Foreign Ministers To Talk In Spain:
19 February 2010:
Geneva: the Swiss and Libyan foreign ministers agreed to talk over the Schengen saga . Micheline Calmy-Rey and Libya's Mousa Kousa will meet with the Spanish foreign minister Miguel Moratinos this Thursday coming in Madrid, in an attempt to resolve the visas issue: the Libyan visa for Schengen nationals and the Schengen visa for Libyans.
Italy Challenges Switzerland Over Schengen Visa Saga:
Libya Stops Issuing Visa To European Nationals From The Schengen Area:
16 February 2010:
According to a report published by the Libyan daily online newspaper Oea Libyan visa for the nationals of the Schengen group of countries will be suspended. The news was released last Sunday the 14th of February 2010, quoting an unidentified "high-ranking" Libyan source.
Apparently this ban will not apply to the EU countries not part of the Schengen treaty, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania. According to schengenvisa.cc, a total of 30 countries including most European Union countries and three non-EU members (Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland) have signed the Schengen agreement; but only 15 of those countries have implemented the common border control and visa provisions: Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands.
Despite other related disagreements and despite Libya being criticised repeatedly for such decisions, it remains a fact that ALL Libyans are still being badly treated by most European countries when it comes to granting visas including the Schengen visa for Libyan nationals.
Hence, according to
EUbusiness:""The Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini on Monday charged Switzerland with holding the Schengen zone members hostage because of its move against Libya. Switzerland must "resolve this bi-lateral issue . . . but not at the expense of everyone else," Frattini told Sky TG24, adding that he had stressed to Bern the "sensitivity" of the situation."
The Maltese Foreign Minister Tonio Borg has also contacted the Libyan European Affairs Minister Obeidi regarding the matter; while the EU and Schengen member states will discuss the incident this week and attempt to resolve the issue. As a Libyan tour operator we can only say that if Libyans are granted European visas and Europeans are granted Libyan visa then perhaps it will be a lot easier to keep everyone happy. Libya is serious about tourism business and, contrary to what people like to write, Libya recently has further relaxed its visa system for Europeans by abolishing the minimum group visa, and there are hints at abolishing the passport translation too. Libya needs to see similar treatment towards its citizens who still are finding it impossible to obtain a European visa. We have read most of the news reports published yesterday and today and we can clearly see that most of them have failed to cover this important issue.
Libyan Visa For Canadians: Update:
February 2010
We are pleased to announce that we are in a position to apply for a Libyan visa for the citizens of Canada. If you are a Canadian and would like to visit Libya please let us know.
Google and UNESCO agree to provide virtual tourism:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/570:
The agreement allows internet users to visit about 19 of the 890 World Heritage Sites via
Google's Street View interface; while the remaining sites will be covered via the usual Google Earth and Google Map. It is hoped that virtual visits of these sites will encourage participation in the preservation of these treasures. Watch the following video for more information.
7th of December 2009:
Submerged Roman City Discovered Off The Coast of Cyrenaica, Eastern Libya:
Archaeologists have discovered what appears to be an ancient, 2nd-century AD, sunken Roman city, just off the coast of Cyrenaica, between the towns of Derna and Bomba, near Tobruk, in Eastern Libya. The discovery was made by members of the project ArCoLibia (Archeology Coast of Libya), in a survey off the Libyan coast. While searching for wrecks, the researchers found walls, tombs, buildings and roads between one and three meters beneath the water.
http://www.archart.it/rivista-archeologia/tag/arcolibia/.
Libya: a future travel destination:
10/11/2009:
Tourism industry leaders at this year's London's World Travel Market (WTM) have made some new predictions regarding travel and the next hot spots of tourism. Although Europe and North America currently make up the biggest proportion of travellers, it looks set that they would be joined by Russians, Brazilians, Indians and Chinese travellers. ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer had pointed out that countries that have been closed for many years, like Libya and Albania, are always of interest to travellers. Read more at: http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/travelhub/media/wtm2009/default.aspx
Canadians and Libyan visa update:
According to:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article: "Libya's embassy on Tuesday denied reports that it has stopped issuing visas to Canadians . . . The embassy in Ottawa said in a statement it "asserts that there are no obstacles or restrictions on the issuance of visas for Canadian citizens to enter Libya." Read more at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jqSPWj7l-ORGqn9muxhsokjAYgxQ
Canadians & Libyan Visa: October 2009:
It appears that Libya has imposed a ban on Canadians entering the country, but we have no official confirmation of the news. For further information, please read this press release at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5goW3J2jCzE8-nkp_pF0GmHqhH8OQ
Ghadames Festival Dates Update:
The latest: (29,30,31/10/2009):
We have been informed by the organisers of Ghadames festival that the dates for the main festival have been moved forward to: 29th,30th and 31st of October 2009. Please note that we are providing this update as is, and we are not responsible for its accuracy. We understand that this could prove to be a big problem for those who have already booked their holidays specifically to attend the festival, but unfortunately tourism in Libya is still in its infancy!
Rock Art Vandalism:
A Libyan lunatic ventured into the sacred territories of Awis(s) and embarked on his mission to vandalise some of the priceless prehistoric paintings of Acacus. Using black paint he painted over a number of cave paintings. The madman was arrested and have been since imprisoned, and the vandalised area was sealed and closed for cleaning and restoration work.
It was this incident apparently that led to rumours stating Acacus is closed. We can assure Libya's visitors that only the caves that have been vandalised that are closed, and not the whole region of Acacus, which continues to be open for tourism as usual. If your Libyan tour operator cannot get you into Acacus, please get in touch with us.
New Libyan Visa Law: August 2009:
Good news: Libya visa on arrival is back.
We have seen a copy of the new law, issued on the 02 of August 2009, and we can confirm that after an absence of two months the visa on arrival is now available at airports, borders and seaports, for both individuals and groups. According to Article 8, the new law becomes effective immediately from the date of its issue (02/08/2009), and it cancels all other laws. However, there are some new alterations too.
Ghadames Festival Dates Update:
There are several dates circulating the Internet regarding the starting date of Ghadames Festival. We have been following the issue and here is the latest information we have: - remember: "the latest" does not mean "the final"!!!
The Latest Dates:
A one-day private festival by the sand dunes on 02/09/2009
The Tuareg Festival on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of October (2,3,4/10/2009)
The original Ghadames Festival on the 23rd, 24th, 25th of October (23,24,25/10/2009)
A new law regarding Libya tourist visa came into effect on the 1st of June 2009. From now on, that is until further notice, visa on arrival will no longer be available. Instead all tourists and visitors must obtain the visa directly from the Libyan embassy (in their country of origin or in the country they are in at the time of applying: for example: Tunisia or Egypt).
The procedure however remains the same: we must receive a copy of the bio page and a copy of its Arabic translation at least two weeks before arrival, and preferably three weeks, because delays at the immigration office and at the embassy can occur.
We will then take these copies to the visa office in Tripoli. The visa office will issue a visa number (or a visa authorization), which we will send to you if you have applied for the visa individually, or it will be telexed or faxed directly by the Libyan immigration office in Libya to the embassy in your country or in the country you were in when you have applied for the visa.
You then need to contact the embassy with the supplied authorisation to obtain the visa. We will be paying a small fee for this receipt and for the time spent processing the application; the actual visa price will be determined by the embassy and is payable to the embassy. You must let us know when you will be arriving as our guide, as before, must complete the entry formalities for you: you cannot enter the country in your own.
The embassy will also request from you to provide other documents in addition to our visa number and your passport. These include: bank statements, travel insurance, and a return ticket (if you are flying direct from the country of your residence or from another country). Also they may ask for fingerprints to be taken. This means that it is safer to leave your country of origin with some bank statements in your pocket and with valid travel insurance. Although this may seem unnecessary and may add more complications to the already complicated process, the same applies to all Libyans who apply for a European visa in Libya - they are too required to provide return tickets, bank statements, travel insurance, money and so on in order to obtain a European visa.
There is also a new law regarding vehicles (cars) entering Libya:
There are also changes to the law regarding vehicles entering the country: in addition to all the previous fees, as stated in our website (the insurance, carnet and plate number), an amount of 150 Libyan dinar must be paid on each car entering Libya (please see our Prices page for details). This amount is not refundable, as is the case with the amount paid for the licence plate.
Please come back for the next visa law; soon!
Swine Flue Update: 18 June 2009:
An outbreak of bubonic plague in the Al-Tarsha area (about 40 km south of Tobruk) has been confirmed by the Libyan government. Also we have reports of the first suspected case of A (H1N1) - swine flu in Libya; and as a result travellers arriving from affected countries are being screened on arrival, and any visitor showing any symptoms of the flu may be placed in quarantine for several days, or even refused entry The
WHO has increased its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6.
Swine Flue: 11 May 2009:
Currently there are no cases of Swine
Flu in Libya. However, all visitors
and tourists are being checked and
screened on arrival by a Libyan medical
team. Travellers displaying symptoms
or suspected to have the symptoms
may be placed in quarantine for several
days or refused entry.
After confirmed cases
of
Swine Flu in Israel, which shares
a border with Egypt, the Egyptian
authorities have also introduced
medical screening for
the virus at several airports.
As of 13 May 2009, 33 countries have
officially reported 5728 cases of influenza
A(H1N1) infection; the worst hit being:
United States of
America (3009 cases), Mexico (2059 cases),
Canada (358 cases), Spain (98) and United
Kingdom (68).
To check the latest updates, please visit
the website of the World
Health Organisation (WHO):
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Niger & Tuareg Rebels 'agree to peace':
According to the Libyan state news agency Jana, the government of
Niger and the Tuareg rebels of the Movement
of Niger People for Justice (MNJ) have
agreed to end hostilities, after two
days of talks in the capital Tripoli.
Breaking News:
March 2009: recent changes mean Tourism
Police for individual tourists too:
Owing to a small incident and cross-border criminal activities in
recent weeks the security around the
border with Algeria has been tightened.
In addition to the areas bordering Niger,
Chad and Sudan, caution needs to be exercised
when visiting areas close to the Algerian
border, like Ghat and even Ghadames.
In addition to the regular desert pass, required from the
Libyan authorities for travellers wishing
to visit the desert area of Acacus, a
new Libyan law now requires all tourists
visiting these areas to be accompanied
by a tourism police. Before, this was a condition
for groups of five or more tourists only.
Now even individuals or groups of two
or three visiting Acacus or Ghat require the company
of a tourism police.
Update (May 2009): this requirement
has now been lifted , and it is
no longer required for individuals
to be accompanied by a tourist police
in their visits to Acacus and
along the Algerian border.
Libya's Wireless Internet: One of The Most Advanced in The World:
The Libyan internet service provider
Libya Telecom& Technology
(http://www.ltt.ly)
is launching its first wireless network
in Libya, known as WiMax, which the company says is one of the
most advanced wireless networks in the world. The system works
by obtaining a special USB adopter which is able to connect to
the internet within 30 miles of any transmission station. This
USB can be plugged into any computer without the need to having
any software installed. The service will cost around 40 Libyan
dinars a month (about €24), plus an advance payment of a one-year
subscription. However, currently negotiations are underway to
reduce this price down, to around £15 a month.
Libya To Attract 1.5 Million
Tourists by 2012:
(January 2009)
The Libyan General Office of Tourism
and Traditional Industries has pledged to improve Libya's tourism strategy
for 2008/2012. The new developments are aimed at attracting 1.5 million
tourists by 2012, and at transforming Libya into one of the main and
cleanest tourist destinations in the world. The plan will include improvements
in the sectors of advertising, promotion of national and foreign investment,
reception capacities, basic infrastructure, quality standards, and,
of course, the protection and preservation of the natural and archaeological
resources from plundering and bad use.
Breaking News:
Visa News: minimum of five tourists required:
(November 2008)
A recent
Libyan internal law (November 2008) requires all visa applications,
regardless of nationality, to contain
a minimum of five passports or more. This does not however
apply to Business and VIP visas,
as they continue to be available
for individual visitors. If you are
travelling alone or within a group
of less than five, please write to
us for further details. Currently
we have no information regarding
this new law, but from what has been
widely reported so far, we can only
sympathise with the Libyan government
regarding the vandalism and desecration
of prehistoric art sites across the
whole of the Sahara. The theft of
archaeological artifacts is a serious
source of concern to the authorities
of both countries Libya and Algeria
and is a despicable act reminiscent
of the Carter era. The massive archeological
treasures still abandoned in the
Sahara undoubtedly will continue
to attract certain kind of visitors
who thus make things difficult for
others; but protective surveillance
measures are also in the increase,
and there are several steps that
have been already taken to protect
the Sahara from looters and vandals,
resulting in several prosecution
cases of some Italian and German
tourists. However, similar moves
are also in effect in Algeria, where
vandalism is also rife, and where
crossing the Tassili area requires
permission from the Tassili National
Park Office, which supervises and
guides tourists around the Tassili
area.
Freedom requires transparency.
Terrorist Threat in Egypt:
(January 2009)
Tension in the Middle East
and North Africa's Egypt has risen
in the wake of the Israeli-Hamas
war in the densely populated Gaza
strip, and as a result terrorist
attacks in Egypt, and in other destinations,
are expected. Moreover, it was reported
that the Egyptian authorities have
suspended issuing travel permits
to the areas near its borders with
Sudan and Libya, where a number of
bandits still operate.
Libyan Visa-Applicants To Submit Fingerprints:
(December 2008)
According to a number of sources, the Libyan Government
has introduced a new visa system
requiring visa-applicants to submit their
biometric details, effective
from 1 December 2008.
As a Libyan tour operator, we have attempted
to confirm this with the Libyan authorities
and came to conclude
that this will only apply to visitors
who request the Libyan visa directly
from the Libyan embassy; and that it does
not apply to those who are getting
their visas at the border or the
airport via their Libyan tour operator.
If we hear of any developments regarding
this matter, we will announce them
here; otherwise visa at the border
and the airport is as usual.
Number of Tourists Visiting Libya Continues
to Rise
According to the Libyan General Board
for Tourism the number of tourists who visited Libya in 2006 has reached
125480 tourists, and that tourism investment in Libya has attracted
73 national and foreign investors. Some investors predict that Libya
would have around three million visitors within three to five years.
However, in addition to the poor banking system, the current Libyan
infrastructure would not be able to cope with the number of tourists
received by Tunisia (about 6 million) or Egypt (about 10 million visitors).
Hence most of the secured investment projects are related to development
and tourism.
Libya Flies Journalists To Kufra(h)
Nov 2008
The Libyan government sent journalists
to the town of Kufrah in support
of local tribal leaders who were
outraged by the recent exaggerated
media reports of the Kufra clashes.
The journalists reported that schools,
shops and businesses were open as
usual, after a
"minor incident"
between the youngsters of two local
tribes was blown out of proportion by
both the Arab and international media.
It is great to be free !
Smoking : the Libyan General People’s Committee
has banned smoking in public places, like cinemas, public transport,
airports, schools and hospitals.
Italy pays Libya compensation:
August 30, 2008 (named by Libya as
"
the Libyan-Italian Friendship Day")
Italy has agreed to pay Libya US$5 billion
as compensation for its occupation of the country from 1911 to 1943,
in a memorandum signed by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
and the Libyan leader Col Muammar al-Qaddafi. Italy will also fund
US$500 million worth of electronic monitoring devices to help Libya
crack down on illegal migrants turning up on Italian shores. There
will also be a colonial-era mine clearing project to make the area
safer for both locals and tourists.
Berlusconi would also hand over to Libya
the statue of Venus of Cyrene, an ancient statue taken by Italian
troops from the ruins of Cyrene during the wars.
The Chad Ordeal
11 Tourists Kidnapped in Egypt by
Sudanese Terrorists Rescued
Five
Germans, five Italians and one Romanian tourists and eight
Egyptian guides were kidnapped by Sudanese terrorists on the 19th of September
2008 in southern Egypt. They were attacked near Gilf al-Kabir,
close to the border with Libya and Sudan. Claims laid by Sudanese and Egyptian
officials in that the tourists were said to have been moved
into Libya were proved to have been false. Shortly
after that, Ali Yousuf, head of protocol at the Sudanese foreign ministry, reported
that all the hostages were safe. During the tense few days, Egypt's Middle East
News Agency reported a $15m ransom, while Germany was in contact with the kidnappers. During
the clashes that ensued between the terrorists and the Sudanese army, Sudanese
officials have fatally shot six of the kidnappers and taken two more
hostages, and confirmed that the hostages are held in Chad, in the Tabbat Shajara
On the following day, the 29th of September
2008, the hostages were rescued, unharmed, and taken to a military
base near Cairo. During the search for the kidnappers and the hostages
travel in the Libyan desert area was suspended for a few weeks, but
now all services have returned to normal and there is no travel restriction.
Fake Prehistoric Pictures
Faked by Henri Lhote's Team
This picture is my own composition based
on the prehistoric images given by
Henri Lhote in his famous Frescoes.
Later it turned out that Lhote's
team had actually faked these images,
which continued to appear in his
book right down to the 70s. This
is what Mr. Henri Lhote wrote
in his book.
"Our little goddesses with the birds'
heads must belong to an historical
period . . . to 1200 B.C.
We know that at this time the Libyans
of the Fezzan were constantly at
war with the Egyptians.
Indeed, the Libyans
attempted to conquer the Nile Valley
"
(Henri Lhote, Frescoes, 1959, pp
69 - 72).
It is difficult to understand why such
people would fake such paintings
as much as it is problematic
to understand what constant Fezzani-Egyptian
wars Henri was referring to!
Beltone Financial has opened an office
in Tripoli:
Beltone Financial is partnering with
the Libyan Economic and Social Development Fund in a deal to provide
a comprehensive suite of services, including investment banking, securities
brokerage and asset management. Beltone Financial's Chairman, Mr.
Aladdin Saba, pointed out that
"
Libya's economic, social and political
climate signals that the time is right to invest in Libya.
"
Libya's economy is recovering rapidly,
and revenues from foreign investment and tourism has seen the Libyan
Annual per capita income rise to US$ 16,000.
Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam has
unveiled a US$ 3bn plan to safeguard
the country's archaeological treasures:
The project, The Green Mountain Sustainable
Development Area, will aim at restoring and preserving the major archaeological
sites, prevent the overdevelopment of its Mediterranean coastline,
and develop eco-friendly hotels, organic farms and a national park.
"
Our intention is to build a complete
and sustainable social, cultural, economic and environmental system
in which the needs of the present allow for the needs of future generations
"
, said Saif. It is hoped the project
will further attract eco-tourists to the Green Mountain area and also
create more than 70,000 jobs for
young Libyans.
Five
Germans, five Italians and one Romanian tourists and eight
Egyptian guides were kidnapped by Sudanese terrorists on the 19th of September
2008 in southern Egypt. They were attacked near Gilf al-Kabir,
close to the border with Libya and Sudan. Claims laid by Sudanese and Egyptian
officials in that the tourists were said to have been moved
into Libya were proved to have been false. 
