Panafrican News Agency

Tunisia extends state of emergency due to situation in Libya

Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) – Tunisia on Friday extended its state of emergency in force because of the latest developments in the Libyan crisis, said a communiqué issued by the Tunisian presidency.  

 

The decision was made by President Béji Caïd Essebsi at the national security council meeting held in that respect.

 

The communiqué stressed "the gravity of the events happening in that nation’’ where clashes broke out between forces loyal to Marshall Khalifa Haftar who proclaimed himself chief of Libyan national army and the forces of the Government led by Fayez Al-Sarraj, recognised by the international community.

 

The Haftar troops undertook an offensive meant to ‘’liberate Tripoli’’, the Libyan capital, according to him. 

 

In the communiqué issued by the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government expressed its ‘’deep concern’’ and ‘’strong worry’’ to the ‘’tragic developments of the situation in Libya’’.  

 

Tunisia “calls on all Libyan parties for restraint and to avoid an escalation which can increase the suffering of the Libyan people and which can threaten its cohesion and territorial integrity’’.

 

Also, Tunisia insists on the importance to preserve the political process sponsored by the United Nations to guarantee all conditions for the success of the national inclusive conference due for the days to come and to accelerate the search for peaceful solution that enables to restore security and stability in Libya.

 

As for the Tunisian Ministry of Defence, it said that ‘’all preventive measures were taken on the ground in order to secure the southeastern borders and face possible consequences’’ of the troubles in Libya with which Tunisia shares a 400 km border. 

 

The communiqué announced instructions given to soldiers to show vigilance and strengthen the army units positioned at the two crossing points of Ras Jedir and Dhehiba between Tunisia and Libya.

 

It stressed ‘’tightened surveillance at the border zones which puts into contribution the air means of the army and the electronic surveillance systems in a bid to prevent any suspect movement’’. 

 

The Tunisian army recently dug a trench along half of the border with Libya and established an electronic surveillance system thanks to equipment provided by the United States and Germany. 

 

-0- PANA BB/IS/MSA/AR 5Apr2019