Libyan Embassy closed following coup attempt

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday March 16, 2016 15:30

It is reported that on Friday, Botswana security agents were mobilised nearer to the Libyan Embassy in a bid to try and contain a volatile security situation after diplomats attempted to topple the Libyan Ambassador to Botswana Abdelmatlob Buhawia.

It is alleged that the attempted coup is a result of the division in line with the political groups controlling different parts of Libya since the death of its long time leader Muammar Gadhaffi.

It is reported that the Libyan diplomats are of the view that Buhawia does not represent the Libyan government.   

Yesterday morning when Mmegi contacted the Libyan Embassy offices, a security guard who answered the phone said that officials were not at work.

He said that they have been told not to allow any person to enter the premises.

 “There is no one to talk to you. Officials have been told not to come to work. Only the Ambassador was here earlier and he left after a few minutes,” he said.

Mmegi is reliably informed that on Monday morning, Ambassador Buhawia went to the office in the company of security agents from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

It is said that they left the premises immediately after finding out that the locks to his office had been changed. The sources further told Mmegi that since Friday, the Libyan Embassy has been heavily guarded.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation declined to comment on the issue, besides saying the ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS) is the one who has the authority to talk about the matter. The PS was said to be in a meeting outside the office. 

The tense situation at the Embassy at Government Enclave, is said to have been behind the American Embassy, which is a few metres away, issuing a security alert on social media. As reported in our sister publication, The Monitor, the Americans had warned the public to stay away from the Government Enclave, something that seemed to irk the Botswana government.