First Independent Mena Newspaper
Tunisia’s southerners are complaining of being neglected by the government after the Arab Spring due to the state of the once vibrant tourism sector in the region. They blamed the lack of tourists in the area on the ever frequent cancelations of international and local flights. The government is accused of only interested in marketing […]
The stepping down of the Tunisian government could take longer than expected as the government and opposition parties make different statements. Prime Minister Larayedh stated that four conditions will determine the departure of the government while the opposition alliance prepares nationwide protests against the government next week. On 5th October, the two parties signed an […]
Despite Tunisia’s political turbulences and incertitude, some experts believe that it is the right moment to venture into the North African country and seize the opportunity that it offers. Oualid Hamdi believes that the negative ratings of major credit ratings agencies and the standoff between the government and the secular opposition parties should not deter […]
The government has revealed that it will introduce austerity measures to curb its budget deficit. Finance Minister Elyes Fakhfakh’s announcement could further stir up the heightened political crisis to new levels. The decision will imply the reduction of public expenditure and the freezing of public salaries. The move is not expected to be welcomed by […]
Efforts to avoid a political breakdown have received a positive response with the announcement of the transitional parliament resuming its duties a month after Mustafa Ben Jaafar, the president of the transitional parliament, suspended its activities unless a deal is brokered by the political parties. Ben Jaafar is a member of the Ettakol party which […]
The Tunisian central Bank has added its voice to the ongoing political crisis. It is worried that if the political parties don’t find a solution to their differences, the economy will fall into a state that it has never before experienced. The board of the central bank has urged all stakeholders to work towards maintain […]
Concessions have been made by the ruling political parties at the end of their Tuesday meeting with the UGTT, the biggest union in Tunisia, and UTICA, an employers’ union representing business owners and self-employed workers. The ruling government has decided to leave power earlier than expected but based on certain conditions. The opposition received the […]
The Interior Minister, Lofti Ben Jeddou, claimed that Ansar al-Sharia is behind the killings of Mohamed Brahmi and Chokri Belaid. He presented proofs to back his claim before announcing that the objectif of Ansar al-sharia is to establish an Islamic emirate in North Africa. Ansar al-Sharia is an organization of ultraconservative Muslims known as the […]
No one can deny that Arab dictatorships have protected religious minorities across the Middle East and North Africa region for decades as a result of tactical decisions meant to win the political backing of Western powers and the financial support of funding agencies. The nomination of Jewish and Christian leaders to cabinet posts in many […]
In many ways, it appears as if Algeria is weathering the Arab Spring fairly well. Despite its sheer size, it has dodged the cycle of demonstrations and upheaval, even though the Arab Spring started right in the next door Tunisia. Its long-term president Abdelaziz Bouteflika has maintained a façade of democracy, though his tenure has […]