Libyan officials on Tuesday ordered EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner and several senior European ministers to leave the country.
Brunner, on a diplomatic mission with government ministers from Italy, Greece and Malta, was accused of “violations” and declared “persona non grata” upon arrival in Benghazi, according to an official statement published by Libyan officials.
Benghazi is run by the eastern-based House of Representatives, one of two warring administrations that emerged in Libya after the downfall of ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The region is also the stronghold of warlord Khalifa Haftar, who is seen as being close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A European Commission spokesperson confirmed to POLITICO that the EU executive had recently received the information about Brunner and was looking into it.
This story is being updated.
