Tunisia reopened its two border crossings with Libya on Dec 15 after a two-week closure caused by clashes between Libyan militias and Tunisian security forces. The failure by Libya’s government to keep order at the border crossings, vital supply routes for the Libyan capital, underlined the challenges facing the new leadership which took over from ousted leader Muammar Qaddafi.
Libya’s interim National Transitional Council has struggled to rein in the myriad armed militias which wield power on the ground, in the absence of a fully functioning army or police force. Tunisian officials have said Libyan militia members had threatened border guards and that there had been a gunfight with militiamen who tried to cross illegally into Tunisia. Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur said earlier this month the authorities would work to secure the border crossings and bring the militias there under control.