Mustafa Abdel Kabir, President of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights, expressed his deep concern regarding the recent escalation of tensions in the Ras Jedir border crossing area between Libya and Tunisia, stemming from the trial of 30 Tunisian citizens, including minors, on charges of smuggling goods from Libya.
This trial came in response to the detention by Tunisian authorities of a Libyan citizen who attempted to transport a quantity of couscous across the border.
Abdel Kabir pointed out that the informal trade movement between the two countries dates back to the 1990s, warning that the continuation of this state of tension will not serve the interests of either party.
He explained that the detained Tunisians belong to low-income families seeking to secure their livelihood, while Libyan citizens face procedural difficulties when crossing the border.
The President of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights called for the necessity of resorting to diplomatic and practical solutions to de-escalate the situation, emphasizing that the continuation of tensions could negatively affect bilateral relations between the two countries.
