Tunisia, Algeria, Libya agree to advance cooperation

Tunisian President Kais Saied (C) meets with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (L) and President of Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi in Tunis, Tunisia, on April 22, 2024. [Xinhua]

Leaders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya agreed on Monday to work together to fight irregular immigration and speed up electricity interconnection.

Tunisian President Kais Saied,  Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and President of Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi, voiced the consensus in a joint declaration at the end of the first consultative meeting among the leaders of the three neighboring countries.

In the declaration, the leaders agreed to form joint working groups to oversee security along the common border and fight against irregular immigration and all forms of organized crime.

They also agreed to speed up the implementation of the Tunisia-Libya-Algeria electricity interconnection project, and speed up procedures for the movement of people and goods as well as establish free trade zones.

Regarding the Libyan issue, the three leaders categorically rejected any form of foreign intervention while hoping for the start of elections in Libya that "meet the aspirations of the Libyans.