Interior Minister of Libya’s Government of National Unity in Tripoli, Emad Al-Tripoli, has issued orders to the General Directorate of Port Security to close the Ras Jedir land border crossing as of yesterday evening until further notice.
Simultaneously, reports emerged of Tunisian authorities closing the crossing from the Tunisian side.
This action follows clashes on the Libyan side of the main border crossing between the two countries, located in the far west of Libya near the city of Zuwara.
The clashes erupted yesterday evening between security forces and armed forces from the Zuwara Military Chamber and the law enforcement force recently tasked with supporting security agencies inside the crossing. There have been no confirmed reports of injuries.
Local media outlets reported that the Zuwara Military Chamber forces have seized control of the crossing after taking over vehicles and equipment from the law enforcement force, some of whose members fled to the neutral zone of the crossing.
The law enforcement force announced on Monday evening the commencement of its duties in supporting security agencies inside the crossing, combating smuggling, and controlling security breaches, following a directive from the Interior Minister earlier that day.
Fathallah Ben Kaddour, the head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation, announced on Monday that the country’s oil production is set to surpass 1.5 million barrels per day by the end of next year, with expectations to reach 2 million barrels daily within three years.
According to a statement from the media office of the Prime Minister of the National Unity Government, Ben Kaddour emphasized that achieving this goal requires continuous financial support for ongoing projects to reach the desired level of productivity.
These remarks were made during the tenth regular meeting of the Supreme Council for Energy and Water Affairs, chaired by Council President Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibah, to discuss agenda items related to the oil and gas sector.
