Libya and Tunisia are working together to boost regional security.
Tunisia called on Libya last week to step up surveillance on its side of the shared border to prevent weapons smuggling and to combat terrorism.
Tunisian Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi called for tightening joint border controls to stem crime and the movement of weapons. Zbidi made the remarks during an April 24th visit to Tunisia by Libyan Army Chief of Staff Major General Youssef Mangoush.
Mangoush said Libya was keen to further strengthen bilateral military co-operation with Tunisia and benefit from the experience of the Tunisian army in areas such as training, military health, border security and sustainable development.
"The border is a shared responsibility between the two countries," Libyan blogger Zouhaeir Boujallad commented. "There must be concerted efforts of all parties concerned, as Libya is now unable, amidst the fragility of the internal security situation and the existence of a substantial arsenal of weapons, to exert full control and control movement of weapons."
The Libyan government, wary of the proliferation of weapons and the escalation of factional fighting, is striving to impose order by integrating former rebels into the defence and interior ministries, while at the same time trying to convince civilians to give up their weapons.
The Libyan Interior Ministry announced April 23rd that 70,000 former rebels would be incorporated into the ministry.
Deputy Libyan Interior Minister Omar Khadhraoui said in remarks published by the local media that some rebels put down their weapons and announced they were joining the interior ministry, saying they are earning salaries, are under the command of ministry officers, and are helping in the fight against crime and the protect strategic sites.
The Libyan deputy interior minister estimated 250,000 weapons remain in the hands of the populace throughout the country.
Since the overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi's regime, pro-al-Qaeda terrorist organisations have benefited from large shipments of arms from Libya and were able to consolidate their position in the countries of the Sahel, such as Mali, where the activity of these armed jihadi groups increased after the recent coup.
These terrorist elements located near the borders of Algeria, Libya and Mauritania, are a source of concern for Maghreb governments. Algeria has expressed particular concern, with Interior Minister Dahou Ould Kablia repeatedly voicing fears of increased terrorist threats in Mali and the spread of organised crime and smuggling.
On its part, Tunisia expressed concern about terrorist infiltration of the Maghreb against the backdrop of tensions in northern Mali, with some areas under the control of radical Islamists.
Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem said in a press conference held mid-April that "the Maghreb countries must join in solidarity to combat terrorism, weapons proliferation and drugs in the region."
Mohamed Ben Zakri, professor of international relations, said the same, contending that the growth of terrorism and its associated crimes would have dire consequences for security and stability in Africa, especially the Maghreb states.
"The nations of the Maghreb, especially Morocco and Algeria, must now put hand in hand, leave the differences and conflicts aside, and work to strengthen military and security co-operation in order to counter this new security risk and squeeze off these terrorist organizations impeding development in the region," he added.
© Magharebia.com 2012
