4.6 C
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Tunisians, Algerians Celebrate as Governments Reopen Land Border After Two Years of Closure

Date:

Share post:

Citizens of Tunisia and Algeria can now cross into both nations using the conventional land border as both nations have now opened their shared land borders after nearly two years of closure.

The decision to reopen the land borders was announced by Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune to his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied on July 5, during Algiers Independence Day celebrations.

Several cars and posters celebrating Tunisian-Algerian friendship marked the reopening of the land borders between the two countries on Friday, more than two years after they were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Authorities expect more than a million Algerian visitors, most of them tourists, to travel to Tunisia during the summer months.

Border

Also, read; Africa’s Fastest Man, Omanyala, Overcomes Jetlag To Qualify For Semis In Oregon

The Melloula border post near Tabarka, traditionally receives the most traffic, according to Tunisian national guard Jamel Zrig.

In 2019, it recorded between 15,000 and 16,000 daily arrivals and accounted for a quarter of Algeria’s inbound traffic.

“Long live the Algerian-Tunisian brotherhood,” read a large banner on the border.

Visitors showed vaccination certificates and other Covid-related documents to customs officials at a building that read: “Welcome to our Algerian brothers in their second country, Tunisia.”

Nearly three million Algerians traveled to Tunisia in 2019, representing a third of foreign visitors in one year, indicating a recovery in Tunisia’s tourism sector.

Tunisians, Algerians Celebrate as Governments Reopen Land Border After Two Years of Closure

Algerians often travel to Tunisia for tourism, visit the popular seaside resorts of Annaba and Constantine, visit family members or seek medical treatment.

Relations between the two North African countries have historically been intense since Algeria’s independence from French colonial rule in 1962.

After the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, the border crossings between the two countries were closed on March 17, 2020 and remained open for emergencies only.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

Related articles

Togo Adopts Constitutional Change: President to be Elected by Parliament

Togo, a nation with a long history of presidential rule, is undergoing a significant shift in its political...

Tragedy Strikes as Bus Carrying Easter Worshippers Plunges off Cliff in South Africa

A devastating accident has rocked South Africa's Limpopo province, claiming the lives of dozens of worshippers en route...

Houston Man Sentenced for Impersonating Bishop and Deceiving 10 Women Into Marrying Him

In a startling case of deception, Houston resident Orlando Coleman, 51, has been sentenced to prison for orchestrating...

Chinese Man Sentenced to Death for Girlfriend’s Murder in Nigeria

In a landmark ruling, a Nigerian court has sentenced a Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, to death for the...