First Independent Mena Newspaper
Tunisia Monday remembered the victims of the June 2015 attack in Sousse where a militant of the Islamic State (IS) group mowed down 38 people, putting the country’s onetime buzzing tourism further into jeopardy. Minister of tourism Selma Elloumi Rekik and British Foreign Office official Tobias Ellwood laid down flowers in remembrance of the 38 […]
A delegation of the Ennahda movement led by its leader, Rachid Ghannouchi, is currently visiting France for meetings with several key political figures. Ghannouchi was quick to outline that the Ennahda delegation was not visiting France on behalf of the government. The visit is part of the party’s “people’s diplomacy” geared towards building strong diplomatic […]
Members of the European Parliament have underscored the soundness of the Morocco-proposed initiative to grant large autonomy to the Sahara under the Kingdom’s sovereignty, deeming this initiative as the ”best acceptable compromise” for settling the conflict. Their remarks came in a letter they addressed to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs […]
Tunisian authorities Monday extended for one month the state of emergency in place since last November attacks. President Caid Essebsi’s office made the announcement saying the decision was taken in consultation with the government and the parliament. This is the fourth time the state of emergency is being prolonged. In the wake of November attacks […]
Tunisian President Caid Essebsi has announced a unity government would be named no later than June 27, reports say. President Caid Essebsiis still continuing consultation for the formation of the unity government that he announced early this month. Local media, quoting close sources to the President, indicate that consultations will heat up this week to […]
Tunisia’s powerful labor union UGTT Wednesday underlined its rejection of President Essebsi’s invitation to join the future unity government currently under discussion. The UGTT said in a statement that as a union it is not “its role to join any government.” The UGTT decision was made after a board meeting discussed President Caid Essebsi’s call […]
As Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi continues consultations about the formation of a unity government, the Tunisian Premier has excluded stepping down; explaining that replacing his cabinet at this critical time will be a “setback” to efforts achieved to face the country’s numerous challenges. “The current stage requires keeping in place the cabinet that will […]
The European Parliament on Wednesday approved a plan to lend Tunisia €500 million on favorable terms to help it reduce its external debt and consolidate its democratic mechanisms. The plan was backed by 561 votes to 76, with 42 abstentions. Rapporteur of the debate Marielle De Sarnez (ALDE,FR) emphasized that it is “a loan which […]
The United States and the European Union Tuesday pondered over future strategies to see how they can both further help Tunisia face up economic and security challenges dogging its nascent democracy. A forum organized by the Atlantic Council Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East was chosen as a platform for discussions. The topic, “A […]
Tunisian security forces last week nabbed six terrorists at Monastir international airport as they were traveling on fake Libyan passports. Tunisia has been struggling with militancy since the 2011 revolution which ousted former President Ben Ali. The North African country was hit last year by three major terrorist attacks perpetrated by Islamic State fighters who, […]