On Sunday, the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries issued an urgent appeal for regional cooperation with Libya and Algeria to confront a rapidly growing desert locust threat that could soon reach Libyan territory, posing serious risks to agriculture and food security across the region.
The warning follows confirmed sightings of locust activity in southern Tunisia, near Libya’s western border. Officials fear that without immediate action, the swarms could spread into Libya, where vast agricultural zones in the south and central regions remain vulnerable due to fragile environmental monitoring and limited pest control capacity.
Tunisian officials stressed that the scale of the threat is beyond the ability of any single country to manage, calling Libya a critical partner in stopping the advance of the destructive swarms. The appeal highlights the need for cross-border coordination, rapid intervention, and aerial pesticide operations to contain the outbreak before it escalates into a regional agricultural disaster.
Mohamed Rajaybi, head of major crops at the Tunisian union, warned that early infestations must be dealt with immediately, citing climate conditions—desert winds and rising temperatures—that could accelerate the movement of locusts into Libya and further destabilize already fragile food systems.
Tunisian authorities have reached out to the Desert Locust Control Committee for the Western Region, a regional body under the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which includes Libya among its ten member states. As a participating member, Libya is expected to play a key role in monitoring, response coordination, and ground-level implementation of containment strategies.
Libya has faced multiple locust invasions in recent years, particularly in remote areas where surveillance infrastructure remains under strain due to prolonged political and economic instability. Experts are warning that if Libya does not act quickly and in coordination with neighbors, the risk of significant crop loss and pressure on food supplies could rise sharply—especially in rural communities that depend on agriculture for survival.
Neighboring Algeria has already declared a state of alert, reporting desert locust swarms in at least 14 provinces, including regions near the Libyan border. This has raised alarm in both Tripoli and local municipalities, as a potential cross-border spread appears increasingly likely.
Desert locusts are among the most destructive migratory pests worldwide. A single swarm can cover hundreds of square kilometers and consume food equal to that needed by 35,000 people in a single day. Without swift, collaborative action, the impact could be devastating not only for Libya but for regional food security and economic stability.
