Libya–Tunisia relations

Libya-Tunisia relations

Libya	Tunisia

Libyan–Tunisian relations are longstanding between the two neighbouring Arab North African Maghreb states, Libya and Tunisia.

Being the two neighboring Maghreb nations with Arabic and Berber heritages, the relationship between the two is friendly but sometimes rocky. Tunisia is known to have some issues with Libya including political differences, as Tunisia is more aligned to Algeria rather than Libya. Nonetheless, the two nations developed a strong connection, a part of their long, rich historical tie.

Libya has an embassy in Tunis whilst Tunisia maintains one in Tripoli, but it has been closed since 2015.

History

The historical Carthage had once controlled northern Libya including modern-day Tripoli and established their influence there until defeated by the Romans.

Both Tunisia and Libya were later Islamized and Arabicized upon the Arab conquest and later became part of Ottoman Empire. France and Italy together acquired control of Tunisia and Libya in the Scramble for Africa.

At 1950s, both two countries regained independence and established relations when Libyan King Idris and Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba were the representatives for each countries, respectively.

Libyan Civil War

Tunisia, where the Arab Spring began, later spread to Libya and overthrew the regimes of both two countries; however, the 2011 Libyan unrest had gone out of control after the death of Muammer Gaddafi caused the later second Libyan unrest which the growing Islamists tried to take control, Tunisia has been caught at the amidst of the conflict in Libya between the Tobruk-based Representatives and the Tripoli-based National Congress.^[1]

As Tunisia is heavily dominated by the Islamist-led Ennahda Movement, Tunisia's relations with Libya have been characterized as rocky, when Tunisia has shown to be sympathized with the Islamists ruling Tripoli, thus causing a drift between the two nations.^[2]

Nonetheless, Tunisia has been a critical supporter for reconciliation between two government factions in Libya, alongside Egypt and Algeria.^[3] Tunisia also opens border for Libyan refugees fleeing the war.

References