Shield and Alert: Maghreb Bound

Tunisia’s largest trade union, the UGTT, has called a nationwide general strike for January 21, 2025, to protest growing pressure on critics and the suspension of traditional wage talks with the government. The move marks a sharp escalation in a country where the union once brokered democratic compromise but now warns that political centralization, economic hardship, and stalled social dialogue are pushing Tunisia toward a new period of instability.

Morocco is seeing a steady rise in court cases against social media influencers, as prosecutors apply existing penal‑code provisions to online speech that once drew little official reaction. Recent prosecutions targeting YouTubers and TikTok personalities for alleged false information, insult, privacy violations, and offenses against public morals highlight how visible digital creators have become a frontline test of the country’s approach to free expression.

Moroccan streamer Ilyas El Maliki was arrested 25 November 2025 in El Jadida, following a police summons tied to a defamation complaint; details remain under investigation while public scrutiny grows.

Morocco’s former minister Mohamed Ziane remains in detention due to two separate criminal cases, one finalized and one still under cassation review. Authorities argue the detention is legally required, while international rights groups challenge aspects of the proceedings.