Libya enhances Tunisia border security with thermal cameras and 24/7 surveillance

Libya is bolstering its border control with Tunisia, initiating the first phase of a western border security project on August 6, 2026. This effort includes deploying advanced optical and thermal surveillance systems across approximately 200 kilometers in the Al-Assah sector, near the Tunisian frontier.

The project, part of the Libyan Border Guard Corps' 2026-2027 strategy, receives crucial support from the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM). The new surveillance measures are designed to provide border units with enhanced visibility, improving their ability to detect and track movements in challenging terrain, day and night.

Libyan authorities aim to strengthen border monitoring and control, specifically targeting contraband activities, irregular migration, and cross-border criminal operations. The EU's involvement, detailed in a recent mission report, includes infrastructure work, surveillance equipment provision, and training. The project, which was nearing completion with the installation of a long-range electro-optical camera, seeks to improve situational awareness, response capabilities, and cross-border cooperation along the Libya-Tunisia border.