The interconnectedness of Libya and Tunisia did not emerge recently. Their link is historical, and Libya’s instability is thus impacted by the economic - and even the political - conditions of Tunisia. They share a 460 km-long border, which is significant for mobility and economic exchange between the two. It bears witness to the movement of people and migration throughout the two countries’ history- before this mobility was constrained by travel manuals called “passports,” borders, and customs.
The ties between Libya and Tunisia go beyond their shared dialect, the similarity of which is particularly pronounced in Western Libya, and their shared cultural customs. This delicious cuisine that is common to both gave us couscous, which is its most prominent dish. Despite the fact that the French had colonized Tunisia while the Italians were in Libya, they share a national history through their struggle against colonialism.
This connection goes back to the era of the Carthaginian Empire, and it extends to the period of Islamic conquest, then Ottoman colonialism, and finally, the reigns of Gaddafi and Bourguiba. These two leaders announced that the two countries would unite at one point, but it was the shortest unification in history (48 hours). The two countries’ economic ties were maintained even when there were tensions between Gaddafi and Bourguiba. The two men clashed although Bourguiba is of Libyan origin, as are many other Tunisians. This is the case because, before they gained their independence, no borders curtailed movement and migration between them because of their kinship ties.
Even the political situation of the two countries does not differ. The only difference is that Libya was subjected to an assault that did not merely bring down the regime but also brought down the state and drained the army. This led to the emergence of armed militias. Meanwhile, in Tunisia, the regime fell, but the state remained.
Thus, we will not see a politically or economically stable Tunisia until the political and security problems of Libya, which have led to a political deadlock, are resolved. While Tunisia Beji Caid Essebsi’s Tunisia distanced itself from the events in Libya, choosing not to play an active role in resolving the crisis, the Ennahda government blatantly interfered, siding with the militia government and political Islam against the Libyan National Army. The Ennahda government’s decision had negative repercussions for Tunisia’s economy, as the Ennahda government, when it was in power, did not address the crisis in Libya by working to ensure reconciliation between the conflicting parties.
Indeed, the exact opposite happened. The godfather of Ennahda and its leader, Rashid Ghannouchi, intervened in favor of his fellow political Islamists. In fact, he and his former prime minister are accused of sending Tunisian youths, male and female, to Libya and Syria, deceiving them and pushing them to fight there in the name of religion under the slogan of “Jihad and Nikah” through preachers associated with Ennahda.
The miscalculations that the Ennahda government made throughout the dark decade of Libya and Tunisia, during which Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers ruled both countries, destabilized both Libya and Tunisia.
The Gate to Africa could well be the first toward economic integration between Libya and Tunisia. It is an extremely significant and consequential step towards fortifying relations and seeing them translate into improved economic ties and industrial cooperation between the two countries that are Africa’s gateway to the European Union.
Tunisian diplomacy has always managed to absorb Libya’s anger. This has been the case since the era of Gaddafi, the Gafsa Uprising, and the dispute between him and Bourguiba. It remains true today after the dispute stirred by political Islam, which prompted the head of the national unity government, Abdelhamid Dabaiba, in an unprecedented move for a head of government, to respond to a Tunisian newspaper that was described as “provocative.” The newspaper said Libya is “a haven for terrorists.” Dabaiba’s response broke with diplomacy, “Tunisia is where the terrorists came to Libya from over the past few years, and it is the country of terrorism.”
However, the truth is that both Libya and Tunisia were victims of political Islam, which utilized violence to ascend to power and moved terrorists and weapons between the two countries. This resulted in tragedy for both sides. Libya and Tunisia both underwent a dark decade, which both managed to overcome today.
Despite the fleeting summer clouds in Libyan-Tunisian relations, the strongly rooted historical, geographical, and human relations the two countries share are stronger and more robust. These ties mean the countries’ national security and economy are intertwined. Thus, no country can have any stability in isolation of the state of affairs in the other one. The same is true for the prospects of economic growth and the development of industry in both countries.
