First Independent Mena Newspaper
Five years after President Kais Saied seized extraordinary executive powers on July 25, 2021, Tunisia’s human rights situation has deteriorated dramatically, said Human Rights Watch in its latest update report issued Tuesday “What began as a slide back into authoritarianism has hardened into systematic repression of civil society organizations, journalists, political opponents, independent lawyers, and […]
The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) has decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 7%, following its Monetary Policy Council meeting held on June 3, 2026. The decision reflects the Bank’s continued cautious stance as it assesses recent economic, monetary and financial developments at both domestic and international levels, particularly evolving inflation trends […]
Tunisia has repatriated more than 4,000 irregular migrants to their countries of origin since July 2025 as part of a large-scale operation targeting migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The Tunisian news agency (TAP) quoted National Guard spokesperson Houcemeddine Jbabli as saying that the operation was coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior and the Tunisian Red […]
Tunisia’s healthcare system is under mounting strain as a surge in doctor emigration, driven by poor working conditions and limited prospects, erodes the country’s public medical capacity, a report by the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) said. The findings come as Tunisia faces worsening economic conditions in recent years under President Kais Saied, […]
Human Rights Watch has condemned the decision of the Tunisian authorities to suspend operations of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, a longstanding refuge for human rights defenders. Founded in 1976, the league has been repeatedly targeted since its inception. Many of its leaders were arbitrarily arrested under the governments of both Habib Bourguiba and […]
A court in Tunisia has sentenced former Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri to 20 years in prison in a case involving the alleged facilitation of passports and citizenship documents for foreign nationals linked to terrorism cases. Tunisia’s State news agency reported on Wednesday that the ruling was issued by the criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism cases […]
Tunisian authorities have detained prominent journalist Zied El Hani over comments posted on social media, reviving alarms among press freedom advocates who say President Kais Saied’s government is intensifying its campaign against independent media nearly five years after his power grab. El Hani was taken into custody last week after appearing before the National Guard’s […]
Tunisia’s economy could face a period of heightened uncertainty as global financial institutions warn of increased volatility in currency and energy markets amid escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East. For Tunisia, which is deeply tied to global trade and heavily dependent on imported energy, these shifts represent critical variables for macroeconomic stability, growth […]
Both presidents of Tunisia and Algeria have sided with Iran, echoing its anti-American and anti-Israeli rhetoric for decades. But once the US and Israeli strikes began, both kept silent, voicing ambiguous stands. Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raisi visited Algiers in March 2024. Tebboune publicly embraced Iran as a strategic partner, framing Palestine as the ideological […]
A group of Tunisian lawmakers has submitted a comprehensive proposal of law to Parliament aimed at overhauling key sections of the country’s nationality Code in a bid to tighten eligibility for citizenship and adapt provisions relating to birthright nationality. Under the draft legislation, naturalization would be conditioned on legal entry and a continuous seven-year […]