June 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of Tunisia and the internationally recognized authorities of Libya have announced the postponement until Monday of the reopening of the Ras Jdeir border crossing, the Libyan side of which was taken over in March by “criminals”, amid tensions in the area due to the control of regular and smuggling operations at the border.
“Postponement of the opening date of the Ras Jdeir border crossing for the movement of citizens until next Monday, June 24, 2024 in order to complete some procedures for its full reopening,” the Libyan Ministry of the Interior reported on its account. of the social network Facebook.
In addition, he has reported that the crossing will remain open “as announced in recent days”, so exceptions will be made for humanitarian, emergency, medical and diplomatic cases.
The Tunisian Ministry of the Interior has confirmed the postponement based on “requests from the Libyan authorities” not to open the crossing this Thursday, as planned.
The agreement, signed by the Tunisian Minister of the Interior, Khaled Nuri, and the Libyan Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibé, contemplates that no taxes or fines will be imposed on traffic at the crossing, and its objective is to “facilitate the development of trade between both countries, accelerate the work to maintain it and give it tools so that the level of work in this field reaches international standards,” according to the Tunisian authorities.
The document also contemplates the opening of six electronic registration centers for the vehicles of Libyan citizens and the resolution of the problem derived from the similarities in the names of citizens of both countries.
The internationally recognized Libyan authorities confirmed in March that they had lost control of their side of the pass and assured that they would retake the area “even if it is necessary to use force,” after the closure of the facilities following a confrontation between “criminals.”
The Government headed by Dbeibé, based in Tripoli, has tried since 2011 to gain stable control of the border crossing, amid requests from Amazigh communities in the area, especially from Zuwara, for it to remain in their hands.
This border crossing with Tunisia, one of the most important, has been an important smuggling route for decades, so control of the area and the benefits derived from the regulation of this traffic have been at the center of various interests.
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