Libya and Tunisia have reached an agreement to reopen the “Ras Jedir” border crossing after completing necessary maintenance, as announced by the Ministry of Interior of Libya’s Government of National Unity. The Libyan Ministry of Interior stated that representatives from both Libyan and Tunisian sides met to finalize arrangements for smooth transit between the two countries and to establish a mechanism for registering vehicles passing through and addressing congestion issues at the entry and exit points. The sides agreed to resume operations at the crossing, adhering to international standards for land borders and the existing legislation of both countries to combat smuggling. They also agreed to open several lanes for travelers and goods.
In April, the acting Libyan Interior Minister, Emad Mustafa al-Trabulsi, had directed a team to assess the damage at the “Ras Jedir” border, aiming for its reopening in the upcoming days. Al-Trabulsi warned that any attacks on workers at the border would be met with force by the Libyan army. The border had seen relative calm after being taken over by forces from Libya’s Ministry of Defense in the west, pending its reopening. The crisis erupted on March 18th when a force called the “Law Enforcement Administration” entered the border under al-Trabulsi’s direction, leading to clashes and halting traffic between Tunisia and Libya. Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, the Prime Minister of Tripoli, emphasized during a meeting that the joint military force’s role should strictly be to maintain security at “Ras Jedir” crossing, without any political or tribal interference, urging local municipalities and notables to support the state authority at all entry points.
