On Monday, the Deputy Chief of General Staff in the Western Region, Lieutenant General Salah Al-Namroush issued directives for seven armed groups and brigades to rapidly prepare a battalion fully equipped with personnel and weaponry.
This move is part of the GNU’s response to recent security challenges as Amazighi armed groups from Zwara seize control of the border crossing with Tunisia.
The directive, communicated by Brigadier General Mohammed Mustafa Al-Sadiq, targets key military units including the Naval Forces Command and the Tripoli and Western Coastal Military Zones. The brigades named in the order are Infantry Brigade 555, Combat Brigade 444, Infantry Battalion 103, Mechanized Brigade 111, and Infantry Brigades 51, 52, and 62, indicating a comprehensive military mobilization.
The letter did not explain the reasons for mobilizing the battalion or its possible tasks.
This military readiness comes in the wake of incidents at the Ras Ajdir border crossing with Tunisia, which has been closed due to security concerns. The Libyan Ministry of the Interior has condemned the aggressive actions by “lawbreakers” at the crossing, emphasizing its importance for Libyans seeking medical services in Tunisia and for trade.
Interior Minister Lieutenant General Emad Al Trabelsi highlighted the Ras Ajdir crossing’s issues with smuggling, including fuel, foreign currencies, and various goods. He stated that maintaining security at national entry points is a priority for the Ministry of the Interior and related governmental bodies.
In a decisive move to protect personnel and assets, Minister Trabelsi announced the withdrawal of security forces from the Ras Ajdir checkpoint, aiming to safeguard lives and property amidst the ongoing situation.
The Ras Ajdir border crossing is the most important land crossing for western Libya, connecting it with Tunisia. However, it is also a hub for smuggling, with Libyan armed militias competing for control over it.
A recent investigation by “Independent Arabiya” has unveiled alarming practices of extortion targeting Tunisians at the Ras Ajdir border crossing with Libya.
Travelers and vehicles crossing from Tunisia into Libya are reportedly subjected to a wide array of abuses. These include physical assault, verbal harassment, and extensive damage to vehicles, with Tunisian traders experiencing the harshest treatment. These traders face not only the destruction of their goods and vehicles but are also compelled to pay bribes to ensure the safe passage of their merchandise from Libya into Tunisia.
