Relationship dossier
Libya
Tunisia
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation shaped by shared security concerns and instability at the Libyan-Tunisian border
Libya toward Tunisia
+15Libyan authorities have engaged Tunisia in bilateral cooperation on security and economic matters. The extent and consistency of these arrangements have been affected by political fragmentation and insecurity in Libya.
Tunisia toward Libya
+25Tunisia has engaged Libyan authorities on border security and economic ties, and hosted the UN-backed Libyan political dialogue in Tunis in 2020. These actions reflect an active diplomatic role, alongside concerns about instability and security near the border.
Overall relationship
+20The enduring relationship is shaped by close practical interdependence and recurring cooperation on security, economic issues and Libya's political process. Insecurity and political fragmentation in Libya, as well as disruptions at the shared border, limit the reliability of that cooperation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Libya and Tunisia have a sustained neighboring-state relationship involving cooperation on security, border management and economic ties. Tunisia hosted the UN-backed Libyan political dialogue in Tunis in 2020, while bilateral cooperation has been constrained by instability in Libya and recurring disruption at the shared border. The relationship combines practical engagement with significant security and implementation challenges.
Areas of tension
- Security incidents and disruptions at the shared border
- The effects of instability in Libya on cross-border movement and trade
Key developments
Tunisia hosted the UN-backed Libyan political dialogue in Tunis.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral security and economic arrangements are unclear.
- The consistency of cooperation among Libya's changing authorities is uncertain.