Headlines Maghreb Morocco Tunisia

Is Tunisia seeking rapprochement with Morocco?

Relations between Morocco and Tunisia have worsened after a provocative act by Kais Saied regarding Rabat’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory in summer 2022. But in recent weeks, several indicators point to a possible improvement in bilateral ties. Authoritarian president Saied has ended Tunisia’s neutrality on the Sahara issue when he offered the leader of […]

Headlines Tunisia

Tunisian rapper, potential presidential candidate sentenced to prison

Kais Saied’s Tunisia is continuing to use the judiciary and bogus charges to prevent his political opponents from entering the presidential electoral race. The latest challenger to be eliminated is Tunisian rapper and businessman Karim Gharbi, aka K2Rhym. He was sentenced on Wednesday August 14 to a four-year imprisonment in absentia for buying sponsorships to […]

Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Kais Saied to run for elections against only two contenders

The Tunisian electoral commission has only accepted bids by three candidates, including incumbent president Kais Saied, who is accused by his opponents of using the judiciary to eliminate his political opponents using bogus charges. The electoral commission has accepted bids by Ayachi Zammel and Zouhair Magzhaoui, who are believed to be allies of Kais Saied, […]

Columns Headlines Tunisia

Tunisian autocrat puts potential rivals in jail ahead of presidential elections

Tunisia’s authoritarian leader kais Saied is paving the way for his re-election by sending his rivals to jail under bogus charges. The manipulation of the judiciary is the most recent episode in a process of power consolidation by Saied who has destroyed the country’s checks and balances, gearing Tunisia to its pre-Arab Spring authoritarianism. On […]

Columns Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia’s Saied intensifies crackdown on political opponents ahead of his re-election

Tunisia’s Kais Saied, who made the unsurprising announcement of his re-election bid, has been using the judiciary to ban political opponents from partaking in October 6 elections, amid worsening economic prospects and social stability. Saied made his re-election bid public the same day a court in Tunis handed an eight-month in prison sentence to leader […]

Columns Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: U.S. reports express deep concern over democracy erosion & crackdown on opposition leaders ahead of presidential vote

The Atlantic Council, the U.S. State Department and Amnesty International have issued scathing reports on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tunisia and sounded the alarm over the escalating repression and prosecution of opposition leaders ahead of upcoming presidential election scheduled for October. In its analysis on the worsening political crisis in Tunisia, the American […]

Columns Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia’s Kais Said busy silencing rivals ahead of presidential elections

Tunisian autocrat Kais Saied is intensifying crackdown to silence potential rivals as he seeks re-election in the presidential elections due in October. The president has ordered a campaign against critical voices in the media and civil society, drawing criticism from rights watchdogs. The most recent measures against political opponents included the arrest of Lotfi Mraihi, […]

Africa Headlines International Libya Tunisia

UN denounces violations against migrants in Libya, Tunisia

The UN denounced widespread violations against refugees and migrants in Libya and Tunisia as it investigates a mass grave yard in the desert country. The U.N. human rights chief said the bodies of 65 migrants were found on the Tunisian-Libyan borders and raised concern over migrants’ rights violations. Both states are involved in these violations […]

Columns Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Another political rival of Kais Saied eliminated from presidential race

The leader of Tunisian Republican Union Party, Lotfi Mraihi, who has announced his intention to run for President in the elections of October 2024, has been arrested by police on suspicion of money laundering. Mraihi is one of the most prominent critics of President Kais Saied who is tightening his grip on power and eliminating […]

Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia’s president scapegoats minister after pilgrimage chaos

Tunisia’s president kais Saied sacked his religious affairs minister after the death of dozens of Tunisian pilgrims. At least 49 Tunisians died in unspecified conditions during the Haj pilgrimage, triggering anger at the chaotic management of Tunisia’s official pilgrimage program. As a sign of his unstable governance, Saied has sacked several members of his cabinet […]