Libyan authorities in Zalton have released Tunisian detainees
Bilateral contacts between local officials ended the crisis of arresting Tunisian citizens and drivers and detaining their trucks near the Ras Ghadir border crossing with Libya.
The Libyan authorities in the nearby town of Zalton, on November 1, 2026, released Tunisian citizens who were detained by them after joint moves to end tensions in the border region. This decision came after contacts and interventions between local officials, mayors and leaders from both the Tunisian and Libyan sides to overcome the problem of the common crossing.
The operation included the release of most Tunisians detained after Libyan security authorities arrested more than 20 Tunisian drivers and citizens and confiscated their vehicles and travel documents at the end of October 2026. Efforts to settle the situation of two persons have continued, two of whom have been detained by the authorities in preparation for the completion of the final release of all concerned and their arrest.
The background of the crisis is the complexities of mobility and mutual stops on the border strip, where the legal status of Libyan citizens in Tunisia has been shifted within an independent judicial path. This path contributed to speeding up field understandings and lifting restrictions on Tunisian nationals detained on the Libyan side.
The next field steps are aimed at ensuring the resumption of transit traffic and trucks and the safe return of freedmen and their vehicles across the Ras Ghed border crossing. Joint Coordination Committees work to ensure smooth movement and prevent repetition of disruptive procedures affecting passengers and carriers between the two countries.