Protesters in southern Tunisia briefly blocked a key road leading to the Ras Ajdir Border Crossing, disrupting travel between Tunisia and Libya following the reported arrest of Tunisian traders by Libyan authorities.
The protest took place in the Tunisian border town of Ben Guerdane, where demonstrators closed the main road linking the town to the Ras Ajdir crossing. The action caused a temporary halt to travellers attempting to leave Tunisia for Libya, forcing many to divert toward the Dhehiba Border Crossing in the southern governorate of Tataouine.
According to reports, the road closure began late at night and led to traffic disruptions on both sides of the border. Video footage circulating online showed long lines of vehicles, including ambulances carrying Libyan passengers, stranded on the Tunisian side during the protest.
Tunisian Member of Parliament Ali Zaghddoud, who represents Ben Guerdane, said in a statement on social media that Tunisian citizens had allegedly been subjected to abuses at the Libyan side of the crossing. He claimed that groups described as “masked men” had carried out acts including assault, extortion and forcing travellers to remain in long queues.
Zaghddoud called on Libyan authorities to release the detained Tunisian traders and allow them to recover their vehicles as soon as possible. He said that any violations should be handled through legal procedures without infringing on personal freedoms or dignity.
The Tunisian MP also urged the government in Tunis to intervene quickly to protect its citizens.
Libyan authorities say their actions at the border are part of ongoing efforts to combat fuel and goods smuggling across the frontier.
Meanwhile, Mustapha Abdelkabir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights, said the road closure lasted around an hour before authorities intervened to reopen it. He added that the border crossing has experienced repeated tensions over the past year due to disagreements over trade regulations and border procedures between Libya and Tunisia.
