Libya Reopens Major Border with Tunisia After Months of Closure

Libya has fully reopened its major border crossing at Ras Ijdir with Tunisia, following a three-month closure due to armed clashes. Interior ministers from both nations marked the occasion. The crossing, vital for medical treatment and trade, had been partially operational since mid-June for specific cases only.

Libya's interior minister in Tripoli said the major border crossing at Ras Ijdir with Tunisia was fully reopened on Monday three months after being shut due to armed clashes. After calm returned to the region, the border crossing was partially reopened in mid-June though just for humanitarian and medical cases as well as special cases with permits from the Tunisian and Algerian interior ministries.

A number of ambulances from the Libyan side were seen heading into Tunisia during the reopening ceremony attended by the interior minister of Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, Emad Trabulsi, and his Tunisian counterpart Khaled Nouri. "Two hours after this ceremony, Libyan citizens will be able to go to Tunisia," Trabulsi told journalists at the crossing.

Nouri said the crossing had been "reopened for all activities except smuggling". Ras Ijdir is the main frontier crossing in Libya's west, often used by Libyans to go to Tunisia for medical treatment and Tunisian traders moving goods in the opposite direction.

Libya has enjoyed little peace since a 2011 uprising and is split between eastern and western factions, with rival administrations governing each area. The GNU, which controls Tripoli and northwestern parts of Libya, is recognised internationally but not by the eastern-based parliament. Trabulsi called on Libyans living near the western border to support regional security forces "in order to combat smuggling and illegal migration".

He said Libya would open two new border crossings with Tunisia "if capabilities are provided". Besides Ras Ijdir, the two countries have a minor crossing at Wazen-Dhehiba that has remained open. (Writing by Ahmed Elumami; editing by Mark Heinrich)

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