On Friday, Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, held a phone conversation with Tunisian President Kais Saied to discuss various shared concerns between the two nations.
According to a statement from the Libyan government, Dbaiba reviewed the steps taken to open the Ras Ajdir border crossing.
The discussion included the coordination mechanisms between the relevant authorities in both countries. This move aims to facilitate smoother cross-border movement for citizens and address the negative issues that have plagued the crossing in recent years.
The two leaders also talked about the conditions of prisoners, detainees, and suspects, emphasizing the importance of judicial and security cooperation between their respective legal and security agencies. The implementation of joint resolutions was a key point of focus during the discussion.
Both sides underscored the necessity for ongoing communication between the interior ministers of Libya and Tunisia to effectively organise and execute the agreements reached during their call.
Last month, Dbaiba and Saied discussed the steps needed to reopen the Ras Ajdir border crossing and support the private sector in both countries.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing.
The Tunisian and Libyan leaders agreed on the importance of urging their interior ministries to fulfill their responsibilities for the reopening and to complete the ongoing maintenance and development work on the Libyan side.
Saied directed Tunisian authorities to resolve issues related to name similarities and to facilitate procedures for Libyan citizens traveling to Tunisia.
Both leaders highlighted the need to support the private sector in areas such as health, general contracting, and industry by simplifying government procedures to ensure smooth operation and cooperation.
Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar and Libyan Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Adel Jumaa attended the meeting.
The Ras Ajdir crossing holds strategic importance as a vital link for both the Libyan and Tunisian people. Its closure on March 19 followed a directive by Libyan Interior Minister Emad Al-Trabelsi and was prompted by armed clashes on March 18 when a law enforcement force arrived at the crossing.
This incident led to tensions, with the Zuwara municipality accusing the force of entering the crossing without coordination with local authorities.
The closure by Libya’s Government of National Unity’s Interior Ministry was in response to security breaches attributed to groups causing chaos and obstructing border operations. Plans to secure the border for its reopening have been communicated, with a strict stance against disorder and warnings of legal actions against those involved in the unrest.
