Libya’s Tobruk-based government has reportedly instructed its representative in Malta not to issue visas to Maltese citizens before receiving security clearance.

The development was reported yesterday on Libya Herald, an online news site, but could not be independently confirmed.

Foreign Minister George Vella said he had received no official communication from the Tobruk chargé d’affaires, Habib Lamin, about the development.

However, Dr Vella insisted that if the reports were correct, the Libyan authorities were under no obligation to inform Malta.

The issuance of visas by the Libyan government is an internal procedure and there is no obligation to inform us of any change

“The issuance of visas by the Libyan government is an internal procedure and there is no obligation to inform us of any change. If anything, introducing security clearance would be reciprocating what Malta already does when it issues visas for Libyan citizens.”

Attempts to contact the Tobruk chargé d’affaires at the Libyan consular office in Ta’ Xbiex yesterday proved futile.

Libya Herald said the visa restrictions ordered by the interior ministry were a result of “confirmed security reports that some Maltese arriving in Libya’s western cities were offering logistic help to Libya Dawn militias”. The Libya Dawn militias, an Islamist alliance, control the capital Tripoli and vast swathes of territory across western and central Libya.

They have formed a rival parliament and government in Tripoli, which does not enjoy international recognition.

Dr Vella said the allegation that Maltese citizens were offering logistical support to the Tripoli-based militias was worrying but too vague to pursue.

“If true, it is a sweeping statement and I would expect to have names, locations and details to be able to look into the matter,” he said, adding outbound travellers were under no obligation to inform the government of their reasons for going to Libya.

The split in Libya has spilled over to Malta, with the representative of the internationally recognised Tobruk government being forced to work from the consular office in Ta’ Xbiex after the Tripoli representative, Hussin Musrati, refused to leave the Libyan embassy in Balzan.

On Sunday Mr Musrati said the Tripoli government would refuse entry into Libya of any individual holding a visa obtained from the Ta’ Xbiex office.

Business people with interests in Libya who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Times of Malta the visa situation had complicated matters further.

An exporter reflected the mood among the 200 Maltese companies with ties to Libya: “We do not know who to go to for a travel visa to Libya, given there are two competing embassies.”

Others noted that the awkward situation had left them wondering whether they should have two passports and two visas issued by the rival Libyan administrations. Militias that collaborated to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 have since turned against each other as they battle for power and resources.

The international community recognises the Tobruk-based government and parliament elected last year. But Libya’s supreme court ruled last November that the anti-Islamist Tobruk parliament was unlawful, creating a legalvacuum and strengthening he Tripoli administration.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com