When news reports say that security forces have managed to confiscate illegal weapons in Tunisia, the arms are usually being taken off religious extremists or potential terrorist groups. However, as recent events have shown, they are not the only groups with guns.

When news reports say that security forces have managed to confiscate illegal weapons in Tunisia, the arms are usually being taken off religious extremists or potential terrorist groups. However, as recent events have shown, they are not the only groups with guns.

Incidents involving criminal gangs with weapons are on the rise and include a rash of armed robberies. Meanwhile incidents involving extremist groups with weapons are also on the up. It is slowly becoming clear that anyone in Tunisia can now get hold of a firearm no matter what their purpose. 

Security agencies have recently been warning about suspicious activities on the Tunisian-Algerian order.

In December Tunisia’s Ministry of the Interior announced that it had stopped a truck full of weapons as it was heading to the Algerian border. In January, the Ministry announced the confiscation of another large batch of weapons in the Medenine region in south-eastern Tunisia and a further lot from out of warehouse in the Mnihla area just out of the capital, Tunis. 

While unwilling to give exact details, Ministry spokespeople did say that among the confiscated weapons there were ground missiles, rocket propelled grenades, a Russian-made missile and a large amount of TNT explosive.    

And most recently, Ministry spokesman, Khaled Taroush, said two members of a hardline religious group, had been arrested near the Algerian border with weapons, explosives, military uniforms and military field glasses.

It’s most likely that the majority of the weapons being confiscated are coming from Libya near border crossings like Ras Ajdir or Dehiba. Due to general government instability, border patrols are almost non-existent and the first choice for most smugglers is the porous desert border between Libya and Tunisia.

Sources have suggested that there are also several arms depots in the Tunisian desert: underground warehouses with special markings.  The desert has actually been a restricted area since the Libyan revolution began – to enter certain parts of it, one must get permission from the Tunisian military. Nonetheless the Libyan revolution saw more arms and armed individuals crossing the border. Sometimes this was under the supervision of the Tunisian military, at other times it was unofficial.

Over time, it has become more difficult to smuggle weapons between the two countries. While it is still possible for individuals to get guns over the border, it has become much harder to bring weapons in large quantities into Tunisia.