The Libyan Coast Guard has arrested six Tunisian fishermen and seized their equipment for illegally crossing into Libyan territorial waters, according to Tunisie Numerique.
The fishermen from Ben Guerdane, in southeast Tunisia, have been detained for a week.
Despite good ties between the two north-African countries, Libya has repeatedly accused Tunisian fishermen of violating its territorial waters without prior permission.
In April 2022, Libyan authorities released 24 Tunisian fishermen for illegally crossing into Libyan territorial waters, according to the Head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights.
Mustafa Abdel-Kabir, said that Libyan authorities have intercepted three Tunisian fishing boats carrying 24 fishermen from Sfax and Mahdia. There have been repeated detentions of Tunisian fishermen by Libya in recent years. Libyan authorities have accused Tunisian fishermen of repeatedly violating territorial waters without prior permission.
Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. This has made the North African country the preferred point of departure for migrants wishing to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
Last month, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that there is a very tricky situation in the country due to the increase in “illegal” immigration from Libya and Tunisia.
In statements to Italian TV channel Rete 4’s Forehand-Backhand chat show, Tajani added “unfortunately they all arrive in Italy, and while the European Union has not shown sufficient solidarity with us up to now, now it is beginning to understand this is necessary.”
“These people do not stay on Lampedusa,” Tajani underlined, referring to Italy’s tiny, southernmost island which lies between Sicily Tunisia and Libya, where many thousands of boat migrants arrive annually.
The Italian Minister stressed that halting the flow of “illegal” migrants to his country across the Mediterranean is mainly linked to the improvement of the situation in Libya and Tunisia.
Tajani confirmed that they have “made great efforts at all levels to achieve security and stability in Libya.” He expressed Italy’s desire to “involve all influential countries in Libyan affairs to contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the country.”
