Cannot import matlab.engine without environment error [Ubuntu 14.04/Anaconda]

I am using Ubuntu 14.04 with Anaconda as my python interpreter. When I try to import the matlab engine in python I get the following error:

File "/home/lanere/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matlab/engine/__init__.py", line 61, in <module>
    'MathWorks Technical Support for assistance: %s' % e)
EnvironmentError: Please reinstall MATLAB Engine for Python or contact MathWorks Technical Support for assistance: /usr/local/MATLAB/R2016b/extern/engines/python/dist/matlab/engine/glnxa64/../../../../../../../bin/glnxa64/libicuio.so.56: undefined symbol: _ZN6icu_5613UnicodeString8doAppendEPKDsii

I am installing to a non-default location (my Anaconda python folder). I have reinstalled the engine a few times. I use the engine on my Windows 10 desktop with Anaconda often and have no issues.

Any ideas how I can fix this. I saw a prior post with a similar issue, but there was never a resolution that fixed their problem.

Answer 1

[Bo Li]

It looks like a compatibility issue of ICU. You may use the verbose mode "python -vvv" to find more details about what is going on. Is there another version of libicuio.so loaded during "import matlab.engine"?

Answer 2

[Daeyun Shin]

I had this problem. It was fixed after reinstalling matplotlib.