The Ras Ajdir border crossing between Libya and Tunisia remained shut down on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after Emad Al-Trabelsi, the acting Interior Minister of Libya’s Interim National Unity Government, ordered its closure starting Monday “until further instructions.”
Videos circulating on Libyan social media showed lines of cars waiting at the closed border gate. One citizen appealed for the crossing to reopen for travelers in both directions, noting there were families, infants, elderly and sick people among those stuck during the holy month of Ramadan.
On Monday, Al-Trabelsi had instructed law enforcement to deploy to Ras Ajdir to bolster security forces at the crossing and combat smuggling as well as other illicit activities. The aim, he said, was to maintain order, ensure safe passage for travelers between the two countries, and preserve Libya’s security interests at this vital border point.
The Interior Ministry stated it decided to immediately close Ras Ajdir after “outlaw groups attacked the crossing” in an attempt to sow chaos and disrupt operations. It vowed legal action against those involved, who the ministry accused of considering unchecked “transgressions” at the border as an entitled right.
While acknowledging instructions for enhanced security measures to ultimately reopen the strategic crossing, the ministry warned it “will not allow chaos” and insisted the border point “must be under state authority and legitimacy.” It decried the incident as an unlawful affront to Libya’s sovereignty that “will not be ignored.”