On Thursday, Nabil Ammar, the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, met with Taher Salem, who is in charge of managing the Libyan Foreign Ministry under Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdel Hamid Dbaiba.
During the meeting, they emphasised the close cooperation between the two countries. They discussed ways to elevate their bilateral relations to new heights.
According to a statement released by the Tunisian Foreign Ministry, the meeting explored the current state of bilateral cooperation. It also discussed strategies to overcome any challenges that might hinder their collaborative efforts. The statement highlighted the importance of intensifying efforts to enhance these relations further.
During their discussions, several issues of mutual interest were addressed. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of increasing consultation and coordination at both regional and international levels, particularly concerning the challenges of irregular migration and human trafficking. The emphasis was on a collaborative approach to address these pervasive issues that affect both nations.
This meeting underscores the ongoing commitment between Tunisia and Libya to work together on critical regional issues, including enhancing security measures and tackling the complex challenges posed by migration patterns in North Africa.
Earlier this month, Algerian Interior Minister Ibrahim Murad announced that Algeria has agreed with Libya and Tunisia on a joint approach to develop border regions as part of efforts to combat irregular migration. This agreement was revealed during a quadripartite meeting held in Rome, Italy, chaired by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and attended by Imad al-Trabulsi of Libya’s Temporary National Unity Government and Tunisian Interior Minister Kamel Feki.
During the meeting, Murad emphasized the need to move beyond restrictive approaches that focus solely on operational, security, and administrative measures against irregular migration. He advocated for addressing the root causes of migration by adopting comprehensive, fair, and effective solutions.
The discussions, which Murad noted had been a focal point in recent talks between Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied and Libyan Presidential Council head Mohamed Younis Menfi, concluded with an agreement to develop a participatory approach. This approach aims at the development of border areas and harmonizing views on migration issues in the region.
Additionally, Minister Piantedosi called for regional efforts to halt secret migration caravans, stating, “Our strategic priority should be to strengthen land border stability starting from the Sahel region.”
