Libya Bans Foreign Drivers From Transporting Goods Within the Country
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The Arab Post
- . October 21, 2026
- . Update: October 21, 2026 3:28 pm
Today, the Libyan logistics and commercial transport sector is in need of a complete overhaul in its regulation. The Government of National Unity (GNU) in Libya bans foreign drivers of commercial cargo vehicles and transporting goods within the country.
The mandate was formalized by the Minister of Economy and Trade Suhail Abu Shiha, through Decree No. 532 of 2026. As per the State’s official instructions, businesses are now forbidden from hiring and/or having their non-Libyan nationals working for them to drive transport trucks to perform transport activities and commercial delivery vehicles across internal routes.
The new legislation will be nationwide and apply to all the commercial world. This covers all heavy and light vehicles for transporting goods within the country (whether the foreign driver is working alone for third parties or directly for a local employer).
Why the Minister of Economy and Trade Issued the Ban
The sweeping decision is part of the Libyan government’s initial move to restructure the country’s road transportation sector, following briefings from the country’s Ministry of Economy and Trade. The main goal is to enhance compliance to the existing laws governing labor market, and ensure that operations comply with domestic laws, officials said.
The ministry aims to create immediate job opportunities for Libyan citizens in an important field, by excluding foreign truck drivers. The government stressed that all commercial activities should fully comply with the existing legal and regulatory framework that regulates the country’s workforce, the Libya Observer reported.
Immediate Impact on Libyan Logistics and Trade – libya bans foreign drivers
Implementing Decree No. 532 in a short time requires a quick shift of the hiring strategy for local distributors, agricultural producers and retail supply chains. Historically, many domestic businesses have been using foreign laborers (mainly from neighboring African and Arab countries) to operate heavy freight because of the cost of their operational wages are cheaper in those countries.
The decree is in line with the current national law relating to labour and road safety, according to the Libya Herald. This means companies that are still using non-Libyan drivers to distribute goods within the premises are liable to hefty administrative fines, penalties or even a shutdown of their operations on the spot.
It does not, however, apply to routes within the country. International transport frameworks, including basic transport laws, are still subject to different international customs frameworks and laws, as defined by the international transport rules outlined in the DCAF Legal Databases.
By allotting the structural shift, the GNU will be able to make this change official, and to ensure Libyan jobs. Whether the mandate will succeed on an ongoing basis will now hinge on how fast the local workforce can fill the new demand for licensed, commercial truck drivers in the nation’s vast distribution system. The stakeholders are advised to follow up economic bulletins released by the Libyan News Agency (LANA) in order to get up to date information on local trade regulations.
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