Tunisia, Libya Launch Sub-Saharan African Trade Corridor


The signing ceremony of the Tunisian-Libyan agreement. (Tunisian Ministry of Trade)
The signing ceremony of the Tunisian-Libyan agreement. (Tunisian Ministry of Trade)
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Tunisia, Libya Launch Sub-Saharan African Trade Corridor


The signing ceremony of the Tunisian-Libyan agreement. (Tunisian Ministry of Trade)
The signing ceremony of the Tunisian-Libyan agreement. (Tunisian Ministry of Trade)

Tunisia and Libya have agreed to create a continental trade corridor that will connect the two countries to sub-Saharan Africa.

The two sides made the announcement on Friday at a joint ministerial meeting held at the headquarters of the Tunisian Ministry of Trade and Export Development.

They stressed the importance of rehabilitating and developing the Ras Jedir border crossing in accordance with international standards to become a commercial gateway to Africa and a means to achieve economic integration, especially with sub-Saharan African countries, and establishing an effective Tunisian-Libyan-African partnership.

The meeting was chaired by Tunisian Minister of Trade and Export Development Kalthoum Ben Rejeb and Libya's Minister of Economy and Trade Mohamed Al-Hwej.

Libya stressed its support to Tunisia to join the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

It was decided to form a rapid response team to address the obstacles at the Ras Jedir crossing and to establish a work group to reinforce cooperation in food and pharmaceutical security.

Memorandums of understanding were signed in the fields of organizing exhibitions and economic forums, integration between the free zone for commercial and logistical activities in Tunisia's Ben Guerdane and the economic free zone in Ras Jedir from the Libyan side.

The two countries look forward to having their trade reach $5 billion Tunisian dinars, which requires political and security stability in both countries. But some observers of the political developments in countries close to Libya see that the corridor project could face a number of challenges.



Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
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Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)

The Lebanese government has approved funding to recruit 1,500 new military personnel in the Lebanese Army as part of an initiative to increase military presence along the southern border, amid Israel’s ongoing hostilities.
The funds will be provided to the Ministry of Defense as an advance, a decision highlighted by the Minister of Information for its political and international significance, particularly in relation to implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the caretaker government emphasized that continued and escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon amount to crimes against humanity. He stated that a primary pathway to a resolution involves halting hostilities against the country, fully implementing Resolution 1701, and electing a new president to restore institutional order, stability, and initiate reconstruction.

Mikati condemned what he described as an international failure to stop Israel’s actions against Lebanon, which include attacks on towns and villages, civilian deaths, and strikes against medical and relief personnel.
“We condemn and hold the international community responsible for the continuation of Israel’s genocidal war on Lebanon, its destruction of towns and villages, killing of civilians, assassination of army personnel, and targeting of medical teams, civil defense, relief teams, and journalists.
“Additionally, the attacks on UNIFIL, which represents international legitimacy, make targeting UNIFIL an assault on the international community and the Security Council. This destruction continues to affect hospitals, schools, and educational centers,” stated Mikati.
On the international front, Mikati highlighted the solidarity shown by world figures, referring to his discussions with leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prime Minister. This was further demonstrated during the Paris Conference in Support of Lebanon -late on October- he underlined, specifically thanking France for its humanitarian efforts and military support.
But he added: “But unfortunately, Israel is blatantly disregarding all international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”
The prime minister reiterated Lebanon’s stance on safeguarding its dignity and sovereignty across air, sea, and land, pledging to confront any Israeli violations.
Following the cabinet meeting, Minister of Information Ziad Makari assured that funds to recruit 1,500 additional soldiers are available and that the government encountered no issues regarding this allocation.
Nasser Yassin, the government’s Emergency Committee coordinator, announced that the cabinet approved fuel allocations for 541 shelters in mountainous regions over 300 meters in altitude to ensure winter heating. Yassin also detailed efforts concerning the people displaced as the result of the Israeli hostilities in Lebanon.
He highlighted that there are 44,000 families in 1,138 shelters and an additional 147,000 families housed within communities.