Libya denies imposing import fees on Tunisians

There has been no government decision to impose entry fees on Tunisians wishing to enter Libya, a foreign ministry official said.

In remarks to the Anadolu news agency yesterday, the official, a member of the National Congress in Tripoli headed by Omar Al-Hassi, said that “the imposition of an entry fee of 60 Libyan dinars ($50) on Tunisians heading to Libya is illegal”.

Sources in Abdullah Al-Thani’s government also denied taking a decision to impose entry fees on Tunisians coming to Libya.

Over the past few weeks, the Tunisian-Libyan border has witnessed increased tensions after the Tunisian government imposed fees of 30 Tunisian dinars ($16) for foreigners coming into the country.

Speaking to reporters recently, Shadi Mohammed, a Libyan official at a border town said that a number of Libyan security points imposed fees on Tunisians coming into Libya.

According to the Tunisian Ministry of Interior, one and a half million Libyans come to Tunisia each year. It is estimated that half a million Libyans live in Tunisia.