U.S. State Department urges Americans to reconsider Libya trips and prepare legal safeguards

The U.S. State Department has issued its strongest travel warning for Libya, urging citizens not to travel there for any reason due to high risks of crime, terrorism, kidnapping, armed confrontations and landmines. The Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory remains unchanged but now includes detailed instructions for travelers to prepare wills, end-of-life directives, insurance beneficiaries and power-of-attorney documents. It warns that kidnappings of U.S. nationals are common and that the U.S. government cannot provide emergency services because there is no embassy in the country.

Visitors are advised to avoid unmarked trails, roadside ditches and any suspicious objects that could be unexploded ordnance. For those who still choose to go, the department recommends a personal evacuation plan, sharing critical documents with family, establishing a proof-of-life protocol and even leaving DNA samples with a medical provider for identification purposes.