19 June 2024: Ras Ajdir border crossing partially re-opened after Tunisian MoI visits Tripoli

This week we look at the re-opening of the Ras Ajdir border crossing, Menfi's interactions on Ukraine, and the politicisation of water resources in Libya and the wider region.

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Ras Ajdir border crossing partially re-opened after Tunisian MoI visits Tripoli

Incident: On 12 June, the Minister of Interior (MoI) of Tunisia Khaled al-Nuwairi met with Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba, MoI Emad Trabelsi and Minister of State for Political Affairs and Communication Walid al-Lafi in Tripoli. The main topic was the reopening of the Ras Ajdir border crossing. Bilateral relations and modalities for border crossings as well as the issue of migration were also discussed. Al-Nuwairi, who was received in Mitiga by his counterpart Trabelsi, was only appointed as MoI on 26 May and was previously governor of Ariana (NE of Tunis). 

Trabelsi and al-Nuwairi signed an agreement in the presence of Dabaiba stating that the Ras Ajdir border crossing would be reopened on 20 June. It was also agreed that the crossing will be opened for humanitarian and diplomatic purposes as early as 13 June.The agreement includes the opening of the four common gates at the border crossing for the entry of citizens of both countries and the resolution of the problem of the same names of Tunisian and Libyan citizens. It also includes a commitment to open six electronic registration points for cars of Libyan citizens and not to charge any fees or fines that have not been agreed. 

On 13 June, the Ras Ajdir border crossing was opened for limited border traffic, as announced the day before.

Comment: The border crossing was closed on 19 March after fighting broke out between local Amazigh militias and MoI forces from Zintan, Zawiyya and Tripoli who had attempted to take control of the border. The main justification for wanting to bring the border under direct MoI control was to clamp down on the endemic smuggling, although the militias who are seeking to replace the local Amazigh militias are also deeply involved in smuggling. Although a tacit agreement was reached about which groups would secure what, the MoI then undertook a major renovation of the border crossing, claiming this had delayed the reopening.

Tunis has been pushing for the border to be reopened, as it has hurt trade in the local region, especially the lack of cheap smuggled fuel which many local communities rely on. This has seen several high-level meetings between Tunisian and Libyan officials, including Tunisian President Kais Saied.

Significance: It appears that the issues between Tunis and Tripoli over the reopening of Ras Ajdir have been resolved for now, or at least a mutually satisfactory deal has been struck to ensure the border can resume operation. It is likely that the Ras Ajdir border crossing will reopen to general traffic on 20 June. This will primarily benefit the border area in both countries. However, it cannot be assumed that smuggling will now be combated more effectively – indeed, smuggling is likely to continue in much the same way as it always has. In addition, the local tensions between and among rival militias involved in smuggling (of fuel, drugs, people etc) are likely to persist and could intensify in the short term with the reopening of the border. As such, there could be an uptick of violent incidents, such as clashes and assassinations, in the area between Zawiyya and Ras Ajdir in the short term. This in turn could see the border closed once more in the coming period.

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Menfi meets Zelensky but fails to sign Ukraine declaration, while G7 calls for new UN Envoy to be appointed

Incident: Presidential Council (PC) head Muhammed al-Menfi sought to balance out Libya’s position on Russia by attending the Ukraine summit this week. On 15 and 16 June, Menfi attended the two-day Summit on Peace in Ukraine held in Switzerland. Around 100 countries and international organisations participated in the summit, but only 84 countries signed the final communique affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its right not to be invaded. Libya was one of the countries which attended the summit but did not sign. During the summit, Menfi met with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, though so far the PC has given no read out of the meeting.

GNU Ministry of Water and MMRA deny reports that Egypt is exploiting the shared Nubian Aquifer, pledges to follow up on the issue

Incident: On 13 June, the GNU Ministry of Water said that recent media statements claiming that Egypt have plans to increase their usage of the shared Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System had been issued by ‘irresponsible people’ and do not represent the official position of Libya. The ministry said it plans to host a symposium with groundwater experts and specialists from the Joint Authority for the Study and Development of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System in the coming days in order to clarify all aspects related to the shared cross-border aquifers and the coordination mechanism used in managing them.

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Menfi meets Zelensky but fails to sign Ukraine declaration, while G7 calls for new UN Envoy to be appointed