A number of Tunisian traders protested on Monday in front of the headquarters of the Bengardane municipality, located in southern Tunisia near the border with Libya, against the continued suspension of their main commercial activity due to a Libyan tightening of the movement of goods. The protesters called on the Tunisian authorities to intervene to find solutions for thousands of workers in the inter-trade between the two countries, which represents a main income for several families who have been engaged in this activity for years and live on (smuggling) fuel, electronic goods and food. The protesters, most of whom are smugglers who call themselves (small traders), called on the Tunisian authorities to impose the principle of reciprocity, considering the prevention of Tunisians from bringing goods from Libya and allowing the transfer of Tunisian goods to Libya, even subsidized food, as unacceptable. Tunisian MP Ali Zaghdoud described the trade situation between Tunisia and Libya as "deplorable", especially for "small traders", noting that the halt in trade between the two countries since last March has left a large number of people in Bengardane and other cities unemployed and in difficult social conditions, due to the disruption of their main activity. Since last March, the Libyan authorities have banned Tunisian travelers, especially car owners, from transporting goods from Libya to Tunisia, as part of a campaign to combat smuggling that has harmed the Libyan economy.

Source: Libya Observer November 13, 2024 05:31 UTC