Tunisian President Kais Saied has called for overcoming all obstacles with Libya to reopen the Ras Ajdir border crossing.
During a meeting at the Carthage Palace on Wednesday with Interior Minister Khaled Nouri and State Secretary for National Security Sofiane Belsadiq, Saied emphasised the need for joint efforts to reopen the border between Tunisia and Libya.
Originally, the Ras Ajdir crossing was scheduled to reopen on 20 June. However, it was postponed to 24 June. Efforts were quickly stalled due to demands from the residents of Zuwara for better services.
Saied stressed the importance of collaborating with Libyan counterparts to address and resolve any issues hindering the border reopening. He highlighted that reopening Ras Ajdir is crucial for both countries, enhancing economic ties and easing travel for citizens.
The reopening of the Ras Ajdir border crossing between Libya and Tunisia has been delayed once again due to internal Libyan issues, according to Mostafa Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Human Rights Observatory.
Despite the Libyan Ministry of Interior’s earlier announcement to reopen the crossing, security concerns and disagreements within Libya have hindered progress.
Abdelkebir stated in an interview with Tunisian radio station IFM that the delay is not due to issues between Libya and Tunisia, but rather internal conflicts in Libya. The exclusion of the city of Zuwara from the agreement with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) is a significant factor in the postponement. He stressed that the security challenges are a Libyan matter, not a Tunisian one.
Abdelkebir noted that the delay was anticipated since the announcement of the reopening date. He highlighted that the agreement must address various aspects, including security, trade, customs, and issues like name similarities, vehicle registration, and the treatment of Tunisians in Libya and Libyans in Tunisia.
Previously, Abdelkebir pointed out that the delay was due to a Libyan-Libyan dispute and the GNU’s attempt to achieve peaceful agreements. The Interior Ministry of the GNU had initially scheduled the reopening for June 20 but postponed it to June 24, citing the need to complete necessary procedures.
