Tunisia and Libya seek to resolve bilateral issues and medical debts

Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nefti and his Libyan counterpart, Taher Al-Baour, met in New York on September 22, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The discussions focused on resolving several outstanding issues, most notably the significant debts owed to Tunisian healthcare facilities. According to Boubaker Zakhama, head of the National Syndicate of Private Clinics in Tunisia, Libyan entities and patients owe approximately 350 million Tunisian dinars, exceeding $112 million.

Other key topics included addressing obstacles to the flow of goods and the movement of people across border crossings. Both parties also emphasized the need for increased coordination on regional and international issues.

During the meeting, Nefti reaffirmed Tunisia’s support for Libyan unity, stating that stability can only be achieved through a “Libyan-Libyan solution.” This comes amid Libya’s ongoing political division between the Government of National Unity in Tripoli and the government led by Osama Hammad in Benghazi.