A group of Tunisian traders gathered on Monday outside the governor’s office in Ben Gardane, a southern Tunisian city near the Libyan border, to protest the ongoing halt of their main trading activity and to urge authorities to intervene for the thousands of workers affected by cross-border trade restrictions between Tunisia and Libya.
The protesters, most of whom are small-scale traders struggling under the strict measures imposed by Libyan authorities on the movement of goods, called on “responsible authorities for urgent intervention to resolve the current issues with Libyan authorities and to ensure the resumption of trade.”
Mohamed Shawat, one of the thousands of traders impacted by Libya’s restrictions, expressed his frustration, stating, “There is still no agreement or clear timeline for resuming trade between Tunisia and Libya. After nine months of halted operations, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for me and thousands of others whose livelihoods depend entirely on Libya.” Many traders have been forced to close their businesses, losing their primary source of income.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya.net, Shawat said, “It’s unfair for Tunisians to be prevented from importing goods from Libya while Tunisian products, including subsidized food, are allowed to enter Libya. Tunisian diplomacy should step up and work with Libya to find real solutions or enforce a policy of reciprocal treatment.”
Tunisian Member of Parliament Ali Zaghdoud also voiced his concern, describing the current state of trade between Tunisia and Libya as “dire,” particularly for small-scale traders. Zaghdoud pointed out that the nine-month standstill has left many residents of Ben Gardane and surrounding towns unemployed, leading to significant social and economic hardship.
During a parliamentary session, Zaghdoud urged Interior Minister Khaled Al-Nouri to take immediate action to restore the flow of cross-border trade and establish clear regulations. He also emphasized the need to coordinate with Libyan authorities to address issues preventing some Ben Gardane residents from entering Libyan territory.
Since March, trade for small-scale traders operating between Tunisia and Libya through the Ras Jedir border crossing has been halted by Libyan authorities, who banned Tunisian travelers—especially drivers—from transporting goods from Libya to Tunisia to combat smuggling. This restriction remains despite the official resumption of trade between the two nations, which currently only allows for trucks with formal export and import contracts to cross the border.
Trade with Libya is a vital source of income for numerous families in southern Tunisia, where job opportunities are limited. Many residents rely on cross-border trade for fuel, electronics, and food items.
