Independent: The Absence of Laws and Corruption Strain Relations Between Libya and Tunisia… Here Are the Details

The Arab Independent newspaper revealed that recently, Libyan security authorities have intensified their campaigns to combat smuggling across the Ras Jdir border and reinforced monitoring measures on the entry of Libyan goods and fuel, a step that has strained relations with Tunisia.

According to the newspaper, this campaign is part of the Libyan government’s efforts to secure its borders and prevent the smuggling of goods, particularly fuel. The security campaigns resulted in the seizure of dozens of Tunisian cars prepared for fuel smuggling and the arrest of their owners, in addition to the confiscation of quantities of goods, foodstuffs, and fuel.

The newspaper pointed out that the new measures have angered Tunisian traders, some of whom reported being subjected to extortion and humiliation. Security authorities have shared photos and videos on social media platforms showing the arrest of Tunisian traders and the seizure of their vehicles. The Libyan authorities say they aim to enforce the law and protect the state’s resources.

Civil activist and head of the Libyan-Tunisian border negotiation committee, Mustafa Abdelkebir, confirmed that “the crossing faces significant security challenges due to the political and security instability in the Libyan side,” while cross-border trade has been significantly affected, despite each trader’s value not exceeding 2000 Libyan dinars (approximately 400 dollars). He denied that smuggling occurs on the scale mentioned by Libyan authorities.

To facilitate the movement of travelers and goods between the two countries through the crossing, Abdelkebir proposed the introduction of new laws to expedite the movement of goods and regulate trade exchange between the two countries, along with effective and smooth mechanisms to ensure both sides’ rights at the crossing.

The newspaper continued, stating that as part of the option for economic integration between the two countries, Abdelkebir emphasized the importance of establishing free zones between the countries and developing the workforce at the crossing to ensure respect for the law, updating agreements that have been in place for over five decades, and aligning them with globalization and the developments in international trade exchange.

Former Tunisian diplomat Abdullah Al-Abidi also commented in a special statement, saying that border areas around the world have their own laws, noting that the central authority in Libya has lost control over the crossing, while armed groups, sometimes without official status, compete for influence over the crossing, creating a form of chaos.

He believed that both countries have the will to organize the work at the crossing, but the means and mechanisms are lacking because the Libyan state has lost control over some regions.