Tunisia ramps up security in the south and on coastal border
The Tunisian government on Saturday decided to beef up its security in a military buffer zone in the southern part of the country as well as in the coastal border line.
It said in a statement that Prime Minister Mahdi Jomaa had decided to intensify security presence in the aforementioned two areas.
The government did not, however, elaborate on the size of the new security reinforcements in the military buffer zone, which contains the country's borders with neighbouring Libya and Algeria.
The buffer zone was created in September 2013 after a decision by Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki.
Sixteen Tunisian troops were killed in July by around 60 militants who managed to infiltrate into Tunisia's Chambi region on the border between Tunisia and Algeria.
Some observers say a deteriorating security condition in neighbouring Libya will have a negative effect on the situation in Tunisia.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
