Libya travel advice

We advise against all travel to Libya due to the ongoing fighting, threat of terrorist attacks and kidnap against foreigners from ISIL-affiliated extremists, and deteriorating security situation throughout the country.

There is a high threat from terrorism. There have been a number of attacks and threats against westerners, western interests and symbolic targets throughout Libya. Daesh (ISIL) affiliated groups have stated an intention to target foreigners. There is clear evidence that groups within Libya have both the intent and capability to carry out kidnappings and are specifically targeting foreign nationals:

  • in April 2015, 2 groups of Ethiopian Christians were executed by ISIL in Libya in 2 locations.
  • in 6 March 2015, terrorists killed 8 oil workers and kidnapped 9 foreign nationals at Al Ghani oilfield, 470 miles south east of Tripoli.
  • in February 2015, 10 oil workers were killed and 3 foreign nationals were kidnapped in an attack on Mabruk oilfield
  • in February 2015, 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians were murdered by ISIL-affiliated terrorists
  • in January 2015, 9 people, including 5 foreign nationals, were killed in a terrorist attack on an international hotel in Tripoli

Recent car bomb attacks in public areas in Tripoli, Tobruk and Benghazi have caused a number of casualties. Further attacks are likely and could be opportunistic. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners. These could target foreign and diplomatic personnel and premises, international hotels, government and other official security institutions.

There is a very high threat of kidnapping throughout Libya from armed tribes, criminals and terrorists, including those who have affiliated with ISIL. A British national was kidnapped in 2014. In February 2015, extremists claiming affiliation with Daesh murdered a group of Egyptian Coptic Christians who had been kidnapped in Sirte in December. Egypt subsequently launched air strikes against Darnah.