The Ras Jedir border crossing between Tunisia and Libya is experiencing significant delays, with waiting times reportedly exceeding 70 hours, according to Mustapha Abdelkebir, president of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights. This slowdown affects not only travelers but also the entire chain of exchanges between the two countries. The issue is no longer just administrative, as a crossing that normally takes a few hours now takes two or three days.
The economic impact of this slowdown is substantial, particularly in terms of heavy truck traffic. Abdelkebir states that around 300 to 350 trucks used to pass through Ras Jedir daily, but this number has dropped to between 150 and 200 trucks per day. This represents a decline of 100 to 200 truck passages per day. At the midpoint, the traffic has decreased from 325 to 175 vehicles, a contraction of approximately 46%.
The trade between Tunisia and Libya is significant, with total exchanges reaching 2.892 billion dinars in 2025, including 2.469 billion dinars in Tunisian exports. However, it is challenging to directly translate this value into losses attributable to the Ras Jedir crossing, as not all exchanges occur through this post, and the transported goods have varying values.
The city of Ben Guerdane is particularly sensitive to this issue, as its economy is heavily dependent on border trade, transportation, services, and Libyan travel. The fluidity of the passage is crucial for the local economy. To accurately assess the situation, it is essential to obtain official data from customs on the number of trucks crossing Ras Jedir daily and their average waiting times.
According to the Tunisian National Tourist Office, 2,254,537 non-resident Libyans were recorded in Tunisia in 2023, highlighting the importance of the border crossing for both trade and tourism. The slowdown at Ras Jedir may have significant implications for both countries.
The Webmanagercenter reports that the export growth from Tunisia to Libya has slowed, with a -1.1% change over the first eight months of 2026. This slowdown may be attributed to the difficulties at the Ras Jedir border crossing.
To accurately calculate the logistical costs and economic impact of the delays at Ras Jedir, detailed information on the number of trucks immobilized, their average waiting times, operating costs, and the value of the concerned cargoes is required. Official statistics from customs and other relevant authorities are necessary to assess the full extent of the situation.
Key points
- Up to 200 fewer trucks per day are passing through the Ras Jedir border crossing.
- Waiting times at Ras Jedir have exceeded 70 hours.
- The trade between Tunisia and Libya amounted to 2.892 billion dinars in 2025.
