Four major Tunisian organizations – the Tunisian Human Rights League, the Tunisian Labor General Union (UGTT), the National Order of Lawyers and the National Federation of Tunisian journalists – published, this Monday, June 16, 2025, a joint statement calling for the authorities of eastern Libyan to free up the volunteers of the “Soumoud caravan” detained in Libya.
This solidarity caravan with Gaza, widely supported by the peoples of the Maghreb, embodies a civil and peaceful action in favor of the Palestinian cause.
However, its advance was interrupted in Syrte where several activists – three Tunisians, three Algerians, six Libyans and one Sudanese – were arrested.
The four Tunisian organizations call on their governments to urgently initiate all the diplomatic approaches necessary to obtain the release of these volunteers and support the caravan.
In addition, the “Soumoud coordination” organizes a demonstration before the Libya Embassy in Tunis, in coordination with civil society and political actors, in order to claim the release of the prisoners and the lifting of the blockade imposed on the caravan.
The Coalition reaffirms its total support for this peaceful initiative included in the World Solidarity Movement towards Palestine.
Finally, the coordination of the common action for Palestine announces a partial release of the prisoners, while the negotiations continue for the complete release of the other participants.
This situation highlights political complexity in Libya and the importance of diplomatic and popular mobilization to defend civil actors engaged in just causes.
