Tunisia Terror Threat: President extends state of emergency

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Europe

02:30

Tunisia's president has extended the country's long-running state of emergency, following reports that the country is still facing terror threats. The country also is looking warily at the unrest in neighboring Libya. Adnen Chaouachi reports.

Tunisia's National Security Council has extended the state of emergency for one additional month on the whole territory, as of Saturday, April 6th. The state of emergency had been decreed since November 24th, 2015, following a terrorist attack on a Presidential Guard bus.

NEJI JALLOUL HEAD OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES "The security situation has improved since 2015. ISIL terrorists or cells have been neutralized in Tunisia. However, the threat persists because we live in an unstable region. The State of emergency gives the government all legal means to fight terrorism."

The National Institute for Strategic Studies warned against the presence of ISIL militants who have been described as "Lone Wolves".

NOUREDDINE ENNAIFER SECURITY EXPERT "Lone Wolves are a threat to national security. Some of the terror plots foiled by Intelligence services or terror attacks perpetrated on Tunisian soil were planned by Lone Wolves. The state of emergency has allowed authorities to arrest or neutralize some of these extremely violent individuals."

ADNEN CHAOUACHI TUNIS, TUNISIA "During the National Security meeting at Carthage palace, Tunisian President Essebsi warned against the escalation of the armed conflict in Libya and its impact on the security situation in Tunisia."

Despite the U.N. Security Council's call on the forces of Libyan army commander Khalifa Haftar to halt all military movements, hundreds of armored vehicles and troops continue their advance towards Tripoli.

MOHAMED SALAH LAABIDI EXPERT IN LIBYAN AFFAIRS "As long as the situation is unstable in Libya, it will affect the security in Tunisia. Last week, the Arab League announced the holding of a meeting between all Libyan stakeholders in Libya in less than 15 days to pave the way for a reconciliation summit in July. It is clear that some strong actors on the ground reject the UN plan."

According to the Tunisian Interior Ministry, thousands of Libyan citizens have crossed the border between the 2 North African neighbors. Hundreds of national guards have been deployed to guarantee security on the Tunisian side of the border region. AC. CGTN.