First Independent Mena Newspaper
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, […]
Moroccan security services have dismantled another terror cell linked to the Islamic extremist group Isis. The six-member cell was active in the northern cities of Tetouan and Martil as well as in Casablanca, the biggest city in the North African Kingdom, an ally of the West. According to a press release issued Thursday by the […]
Tunisian ambassador to London Nabil Ammar has called on British government to ease its tourist travel restrictions imposed on his country since last year after 30 Britons were killed in a terror attack targeting foreign tourists. Isis claimed responsibility for the attack, which led the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to advice against all but […]
The Speaker of the Tunisian parliament, Mohammed Ennaceur, denied reports that Tunis has approved the deployment of a military base in the country after it was designated as a major non-NATO ally of the US by President Obama. Speaking to Russia Today, Ennaceur claimed the reports are “not true” because “there are no such plans.” […]
The Tunisian Interior Ministry Tuesday announced security forces found a cache of weapons and ammunition in the town of Ben Guerdane, lying at the border with neighboring Libya. The cache included 29 Kalashnikov, 3 RPG rocket launchers and 130 machine guns, the ministry said in a statement. The security forces also found boxes for 9,520 […]
King Mohammed VI has called the world humanitarian summiteers gathering in Istanbul (May 23-24) to adopt a proactive approach to help promote humanitarian action which needs to be carried out with “greater transparency” and “verifiable accountability.’’ This world event is taking place at a crucial juncture wherein the number of refugees and displaced persons in […]
Rachid Ghannouchi, who has been reelected Monday as the leader of Ennahda party with a comfortable 800 of the 1058 votes, said the party is taking a new turn, alluding to the end of political Islam. “From today, we are seriously moving towards becoming a national and civil political party with an Islamic core, which […]
The Tunisian Islamist party Ennahda is refurnishing its image as party leaders announced Thursday separation of religious activities from Politics, reports say. The new orientation is to be confirmed at party’s convention this weekend. Party leader Rached Ghannouchi reportedly told French newspaper Le Monde that the change is coming in a new context, with a […]