Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has announced a suspension of new international study scholarships and the closure of 25 embassies abroad, as part of a broader effort to curb government spending and reform the foreign service.
The policy, which took effect on April 25, stipulates that current scholarship holders must finish their programs without receiving any extensions. The funds saved from halting new scholarships will be redirected toward creating a national digital library to enhance domestic academic and research access.
Simultaneously, Dbeibah has tasked a committee with reviewing the effectiveness of Libya’s overseas diplomatic missions. The government will shut down embassies in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with diplomatic staff expected to be reassigned to nearby regional posts.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been given a six-month deadline to complete the closures and deliver a detailed report to the Prime Minister’s office.
The measures are part of a broader fiscal reform plan prompted by warnings from the Central Bank of Libya over rising public expenditures.