Tunisia issues international arrest warrants against top staff officials

Tunisia’s ministry of Justice announced the issuance of international arrest warrants against 12 people including ex-Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and former Chief of Staff of President Kais Saied, Nadia Akacha, suspected of involvement in an alleged plot against the State.

Dozens of people including political figures, business people and journalists have been arrested in the North African country and convicted for plot against the State in connection with some foreign countries.

The spokesperson of the counter-terrorism department of the ministry indicated on Tuesday September 12 that the prosecutor investigating the case has issued international arrest warrants against 12 Tunisians outside the country. The people are namely Chahed, Akacha, Moadh Khriji, son of former parliament speaker and political leader Rached Ghannouchi, Kamel Guizani, Mustapha Khedher, Maher Zid, Lotfi Zitoun (former minister), Abdelkader Farhat, Adel Daadaa, Chahrazed Akache (journalist), Ali Hlioui and Rafik Yahya.

Critics of President Saied say the alleged plot against the State case is purely political and is meant to silence all voices against his decisions that started from 25 July 2021 when he froze and later dissolved the parliament, sacked then Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and several other judges.

Critics branded the move a coup. Several foreign countries called for the release of the arrested figures and the return of freedom of speech.