By Sami Zaptia.
London, 10 September 2021:
The Libyan-Tunisian borders will be reopened next week, according to the Official Libyan Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hamuda yesterday.
The statement follows yesterday’s visit by Libyan Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba to Tunis where he met Tunisian President Kais Saied.
Hamuda stated that ‘‘It was agreed to reopen the borders and resume air traffic during the next week, according to the unified health protocol between the Libyan and Tunisian sides.’’
The official government report on the meeting, however, stated: ‘‘The issue of opening border crossings between the two countries was also discussed, as the two sides agreed to coordinate between the ministries of health and the interior in the two countries to prepare a unified protocol for the return of land and air traffic between the two countries as soon as possible.’’
Aldabaiba’s visit to Tunisia follows Libya’s unilateral closure of its borders with Tunisia because of the Coronavirus – without consultation. It also follows tit-for-tat accusations by both countries as to which country was exporting terrorists/terrorism to the other.
When Libya announced the reopening of its land and air borders with Tunisia, Tunisia failed to reciprocate.
