Summary:

On 20 July 2024, the Ras Jedir border crossing between Tunisia and Libya was closed again for several hours after clashes between Tripoli’s forces and armed groups from Zuwara as a permanent solution as to how the border will operate on the Libyan side remains elusive. 

The clashes resulted after Libyan forces injured an individual during a control operation which led to the families involved protesting by organizing a sit-in to block the road leading to the border crossing.   

Security forces from Libya’s Tripoli-based government disbanded the protests, but groups in the Zuwara region near the border crossing part continue to be frustrated by restrictive security operations from both Libyan and Tunisian forces which have been targeting vehicles suspected to be used in trafficking migrants and fuel.  

The border crossing was re-opened in early May after a two-month closure due to violent clashes due to disagreements over control of the crossing on the Libyan side. However, shortly thereafter, the crossing was closed again after clashes were again reported in Libya. Despite persistent efforts, the various Libyan actors seeking control of the border have yet to find a stable solution.  

Outlook: 

The recurrence of clashes in Zuwara  and the interruptions of Ras Jedir crossing border are indicators of the fragility of the agreements between Tripoli’s government and the Amazigh Supreme Council which has traditionally wielded significant control over both formal and informal border operations around Ras Jedir.   

The Council put forward conditions to re-open Ras Jedir ,including the development of water, electricity, and road infrastructure in Zuwara and further requested that the Tripoli-based government exert control over other strategic points like the Mitiga airport and the Libyan Iron and Steel Company in Misrata where local militias have significant and disruptive influence.   

The Tripoli-based government has struggled to demonstrate and credibly maintain centralized power over western Libyan, thereby failing to garner the respect of various local tribes and leaders.   

As this tension over broader authority and control in Libya continues, tensions are likely to continue between various influential tribes and the Tripoli-based government. As power dynamics continue to shift due to ongoing discussions regarding the formation of a new national unity government, unpredictable localized conflicts are likely to continue to emerge across Libya and could impact Tunisia’s security and economy as has been the case with the disruptions as Ras Jedir.  

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