The Ras Jedir border crossing, a crucial conduit for goods between Libya and Tunisia, reopened on Monday, July 1st, after being closed for over three months. The closure, which began in March, followed clashes on the Libyan side between police forces of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and armed groups from the border town of Zouara, who had control over cross-border smuggling operations.
The reopening comes as a significant relief to many Tunisians living near the Libya-Tunisia border. “The Interior Ministries of both countries will no longer allow border posts to be exploited for arms and drug trafficking,” stated Libyan Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi during a press conference with his Tunisian counterpart. This statement serves as a stern warning to the armed groups that had erected sand barriers to block cross-border traffic in recent months.
In Zouara, Libya, located 60 kilometers from the Tunisian border, many residents opposed the transfer of border management to customs officers. This resistance contributed to the unrest that led to the border closure.
On the Tunisian side, the closure’s impact was acutely felt in neighboring towns. Residents rely heavily on the smuggling of food, fuel, and household goods for their livelihood. In Ben Guerdane, a town near the border, shops selling Libyan goods and currency exchangers line a road several kilometers long.
During the closure, most cross-border trade had to be rerouted through the Dhehiba border post, 200 kilometers away, adding nearly two hours to the journey for merchants. The reopening of Ras Jedir is expected to restore more efficient trade routes and ease the economic strain on local communities.
This development marks a hopeful turn towards stability and cooperation between Libya and Tunisia, with the potential to improve security and economic conditions along their shared border.