Dehiba
Encyclopedia
Dehiba is a town and commune in the east of Tataouine Governorate
, Tunisia
. It lies some four kilometers west of the border of Libya
, itself about the same distance east from the Libyan town of Wazzin.
During the 2011 Libyan Civil War
, the border crossing became crucial as a vital transport link for supplies to beleaguered civilians and rebel military forces in the Nafusa Mountains front.
Tented camps were set up near Dehaba to accommodate refugees from the Libyan conflict, mainly consisting of the inhabitants of the heavily-disputed mountain towns nearby. The Libyan and Tunisian populations involved are mainly Imazighen (or Berbers
), who share a common culture and language as well as family relationships.
Skirmishes took place between anti-Gaddafi rebels and Libyan government forces for control of the border crossing which spilled over into the town of Dehiba and its surrounding area. Tunisian troops also were reportedly involved in the exchanges of fire. On 17 May, and again on 14 June, Libyan government forces fired Grad rockets across the border in the vicinity of Dahiba, without causing damage.
Tataouine Governorate
Tataouine Governorate is the southernmost of the twenty-four governorates of Tunisia, the only one to border both Algeria and Libya. It is also the largest Tunisian governorate, covering an area of 38,889 km² with a population of 143,524 , nearly tied for second least populated with Kebili ...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. It lies some four kilometers west of the border of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, itself about the same distance east from the Libyan town of Wazzin.
During the 2011 Libyan Civil War
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
, the border crossing became crucial as a vital transport link for supplies to beleaguered civilians and rebel military forces in the Nafusa Mountains front.
Tented camps were set up near Dehaba to accommodate refugees from the Libyan conflict, mainly consisting of the inhabitants of the heavily-disputed mountain towns nearby. The Libyan and Tunisian populations involved are mainly Imazighen (or Berbers
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
), who share a common culture and language as well as family relationships.
Skirmishes took place between anti-Gaddafi rebels and Libyan government forces for control of the border crossing which spilled over into the town of Dehiba and its surrounding area. Tunisian troops also were reportedly involved in the exchanges of fire. On 17 May, and again on 14 June, Libyan government forces fired Grad rockets across the border in the vicinity of Dahiba, without causing damage.