It is the first visit by a high-level delegation from Tunisia since an armed rebellion overthrew the government of Muammar Qaddafi in a seven-month long civil war.

The prime minister’s spokesman Moez Sinaoui described the visit as “historic.”

Essebsi, together with other top officials, will meet with the Libyan National Transitional Council in Benghazi, where the rebellion began.

Before the war, Libya and Tunisia had close ties, with billions of dollars in trade. During the war, Tunisia played host to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Libya.

Libya has said Tunisia will definitely be considered for any future reconstruction projects.