Libya has ordered the immediate closure of its primary border crossing with Tunisia after clashes erupted between armed groups and security forces on the Libyan side, the interior ministry announced.
The Ras Jedir border post, situated in the desert region approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) from Libya’s capital, Tripoli, serves as the main entry point between the two North African nations.
The interior ministry stated that the closure was prompted by “outlaw groups’ attack on the post to sow chaos.” These groups are reportedly engaged in smuggling activities, which they view as their prerogative.
The closure is intended to facilitate the establishment of security measures to reinstate the post’s operations, ensuring it operates under the authority and legitimacy of the state.
According to local reports, armed clashes erupted on Monday night between armed groups controlling Ras Jedir and security forces dispatched from Tripoli.
Earlier on Monday, Libyan Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi directed the ministry’s law enforcement department to intervene at Ras Jedir to combat smuggling and security breaches while facilitating travel.
Groups from border cities have long controlled Ras Jedir, benefiting from lucrative cross-border trade. The closure disrupts the flow of goods in both directions, impacting Tunisian families in the south reliant on trade and Libyans seeking medical treatment in Tunisia.
Libya continues to grapple with the aftermath of years of conflict following the overthrow and demise of longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The nation remains divided between rival administrations in Tripoli and Benghazi.
