A recent claim circulating on social media platforms suggested that Libya had set a limit of 5,000 Libyan dinars for its citizens traveling to Tunisia. The claim, first spotted on June 30, 2024, garnered nearly 12.9 thousand interactions and 1.4 thousand comments. Several pages shared this claim, citing a Libyan government source. However, an investigation by Annir, a fact-checking organization, found that this claim was misleading.
Annir's investigation led them to a government platform, an electronic communication channel between the Libyan government and its citizens. On this platform, the government clarified that the limit on the amount of money citizens can carry or transfer to Tunisia is not set by Libya, but rather by the Tunisian authorities. This clarification came in the form of an infographic published on June 20, 2024, by the Ministry of Interior's Department of Traffic and Licensing.
The infographic explained that the limit on money transfer is based on Tunisian regulations regarding the import and export of money. This clarification was made after the Libyan government announced the reopening of the Ras Jedir border crossing, which had been closed previously. Annir's team found that the misleading claim was shared without change from the government platform.
A closer analysis of the claim revealed that it did not specify whether the 5,000 dinar limit was in Libyan or Tunisian currency, causing confusion. However, an investigation into official government channels yielded no evidence of a Libyan government decision setting a specific limit for citizens traveling to Tunisia. According to Annir, the authority responsible for setting limits on money transfer lies with the destination country, in this case, Tunisia.
The Tunisian authorities have indeed published information on their official website regarding the regulations on money exchange within their territory. The Diwane of Tunisia, the country's customs administration, provides a detailed explanation of the procedures and limits on money exchange. This information is readily available to the public, dispelling any confusion caused by the misleading claim.
Annir's investigation concluded that the claim was misleading, as the Libyan government did not set a limit of 5,000 dinars for its citizens traveling to Tunisia. Instead, it is the Tunisian authorities that determine and regulate money exchange within their territory. The Libyan government has not issued any official decision setting a specific limit for its citizens traveling to Tunisia.
In conclusion, the claim circulating on social media was found to be false, and the Libyan government has clarified that it did not set a limit on the amount of money its citizens can carry or transfer to Tunisia. The Tunisian authorities are the ones responsible for regulating money exchange within their territory, and their regulations are publicly available.
Key points
- The Libyan government did not set a limit of 5,000 dinars for its citizens traveling to Tunisia.
- The Tunisian authorities are responsible for regulating money exchange within their territory.
- The claim circulating on social media was found to be misleading and false.
