Ras Jdir border crossing to reopen

The Ras Jdir crossing between the borders of Tunisia and Libya resumed work on Saturday. In an official Tunisian statement, a security source confirmed that the decision to resume the activity of the border crossing came after the arrival of important security reinforcements from the Tunisian side. "The situation at the border crossing is not stable yet due to the absence of the Libyan regulatory framework and the fact that rebels are still controlling it, which led to the return of tension between Tunisia and Libya, especially following the abduction of a member of the Tunisian security forces deployed at Ras Jdir by the Libyan rebels," added the sources. However, Tunisia had decided to close the crossing following a joint decision taken by the provincial union of the border office in Ras Jdir and Tunisian customs and border police agents, as a result of the tension. Adnan Mansar, spokesperson for the Tunisian Presidency, announced the border crossing closed due to the deterioration of the security situation and in order to avoid arms-smuggling into Tunisia. In a press conference that took place on Friday evening Adnan Mansar stressed that the procedure was a technical measure aimed at securing the border, pointing that the closure will be followed by other procedures to reinforce its security.