Benghazi – In a daily scene reflecting a spirit of work and discipline, the offices of the Passport, Nationality, and Foreigners Affairs Authority in the Eastern Region welcome tens of thousands of citizens monthly. They form queues, moving with confidence towards a service that now represents the only trusted document locally and internationally: the “Libyan passport.”
Despite the country’s weak infrastructure, whether in telecommunications and internet networks or in government buildings and facilities, the Authority continues to perform its duties with remarkable efficiency. The process of photography, processing, and printing proceeds at a record pace compared to the enormous pressure and high demand from citizens.
The Libyan Passport… The Essential Document for Every Transaction
Reliance on the passport is increasing in various daily transactions in Libya. It is required by banks, telecommunication companies, and private and public institutions as a primary document even for simple procedures like obtaining a phone SIM card or opening a bank account. This reality has increased the burden on the Authority, but it has not hindered the workflow. Instead, it has driven it to redouble its efforts and improve its organizational and administrative performance.
Challenges Beyond its Jurisdiction… and Advanced Administrative Awareness
One of the most prominent challenges facing the Authority’s employees is the delay caused by amendments to names or national numbers, procedures that fall under the Civil Registry Authority, not the Passport Authority.
Nevertheless, some citizens hold the Passport Authority responsible, which increases the pressure on its staff. Despite all this, the Authority continues to welcome citizens and operate with a high spirit of responsibility and professionalism.
Field Leaders Close to the Citizen
These successes are credited to a conscious and grounded management, led by Major General Engineer Faisal Mohammed Mahjoub, head of the Authority’s branch in the Eastern Region. He is a young leader who has been keen on monitoring the workflow in the field and providing administrative and logistical support to the branches to maintain a high degree of readiness and commitment.
Special appreciation is also extended to Brigadier General Suleiman Ashour Shawail, head of the Authority’s branch in the city of Benghazi, for his tangible efforts in organizing the work, receiving citizens, and overcoming daily obstacles. This has had a positive impact on the speed of passport issuance and the convenience of customers.
Support as a Pillar of Stability
The significant role of General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, in supporting the Passport Authority and all service institutions in the Eastern Region cannot be overlooked. His direct support has had a clear impact on strengthening administrative security, facilitating coordination between agencies, and enhancing the efficiency of services provided to citizens.
Achievement Despite Difficulties
Despite technical challenges and daily pressure, the Passport Authority in the Eastern Region has proven its ability to manage its work at an accelerating pace and with a level of discipline that reflects a positive image of the Libyan administrative system. Today, the passport is not just a travel document but a symbol of restored trust in national institutions that work quietly and efficiently on the ground. (Libyan News Agency)