Tunisian president meets new Libyan unity government
Tunisia and Libya were major trade partners before the political transitions in both countries during the Arab Spring. Tunisia was neutral during the Libyan civil war that ended in December.
Tunisia’s president flew to Libya on Wednesday to meet with the neighboring country’s new unity government.
Kais Saied met with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah as well as head of Libya’s Presidential Council Mohammad Younes Menfi in Tripoli. The discussions focused on restoring Tunisia-Libya relations to normal following years of civil war in Libya, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.
“It’s time to overcome all causes of alienation,” said Saied at a press conference.
The recent history of Tunisia-Libya relations has been shaped by the Arab Spring. In 2011, a popular revolution forced longtime Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali out of power. Later that year, Moammar Gadhafi, who ruled Libya for decades, was removed from power and killed during the NATO-backed uprising.
