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Migrations: Number of Tunisians fleeing their country to Italy up 11% this year
More than 13,000 clandestine Tunisian migrants have reached Italy by sea since the start of the year, almost a fifth of them minors, a Tunisian rights group said on Tuesday. The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said more than 500 clandestine...
Tunisia: Under public pressure, Tunisian government releases journalist on bail
Journalist Ghassen Ben Khlifa free on bail A Tunisian journalist and activist was released on bail Sunday, five days after his arrest on suspicion of "terrorism", his website said. Ghassen Ben Khlifa, editor of the website Inhiyez and a prominent pro-Palestinian...
Tunisian journalist Ghassen Ben Khlifa facing ‘terrorism’ charge
A Tunisian journalist and activist was released on bail Sunday, five days after his arrest on suspicion of "terrorism", his website said. Ghassen Ben Khlifa, editor of the website Inhiyez and a prominent pro-Palestinian activist, was arrested at his home on Tuesday....
Western Sahara conflict worsens regional diplomatic relations, amplifies instability
By Paul Raymond A bitter showdown between Morocco and its arch-rival Algeria over the disputed Western Sahara territory is causing diplomatic rifts with other nations and even risks sparking a full-blown conflict, analysts say. "We're seeing a diplomatic war, where...
Tunisia: Cash-strapped Tunisia faces rationing and food shortages
By Habib Haj Salem Cash-strapped Tunisia is facing a dearth of imported foodstuffs from dairy products to coffee, forcing informal rationing at supermarkets and threatening some food and beverage companies. For weeks, consumers and businesses have been struggling to...
Tunisia: Customs agents kill suspected cigarette smuggler as social tensions grow
Tunisian prosecutors opened an investigation on Thursday into the death of a young suspected cigarette smuggler who was shot by a customs officer in central Tunis. Mohsen Zeyani, 23, died in hospital late Wednesday after being shot during a raid on a car carrying...
Tunisia: Three migrants drown off Gabes coast
Three irregular migrants drowned off Tunisia's coast after their Europe-bound boat bound sank, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. Tunisia's National Guard said its naval teams retrieved three bodies overnight off the southern coast of Gabes,...
Tunisia: Opposition announces boycott of upcoming legislative elections
Tunisia's main opposition alliance said Wednesday its members including the once-powerful Ennahdha party would boycott December polls to replace a parliament dissolved by President Kais Saied. The vote is set for nearly a year and a half after Saied suspended the...
Tunisia: Clash in Mount Salloum near Algeria leaves three IS Jihadists dead
The Tunisian army said Friday it had killed three jihadists linked to the Islamic State group, during an operation in the country's west. The men, members of the "Soldiers of the Caliphate" group, were killed during a morning operation in the Mount Salloum area near...
Western Sahara: Tit-for-tat diplomatic row erupts between Morocco and Tunisia
Tunisia announced Saturday the recall of its ambassador to Morocco for consultations, a day after the kingdom did the same in response to Tunisia's president hosting the Polisario movement's leader. The Polisario wants an independent state in the Western Sahara, a...
How to influence Africa: Japan pledges $30 billion in Africa-wide investments
Japan will cooperate closely with African countries to promote "more resilient" economies, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the final session of an investment conference in Tunisia on Sunday. He also promised Japan would use its place on the United Nations Security...
Migrations: Thousands of young Tunisians migrated to Italy this year
More than 2,000 Tunisian youngsters this year have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing from the North African country to Italy to seek a better life, a rights group said Wednesday. The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said the minors were...
Tunisia: Journalist Salah Attia jailed by military court for criticizing president and army
A Tunisian military court sentenced journalist Salah Attia to three months in prison Wednesday for public remarks he made about President Kais Saied and the armed forces, his lawyer said. Attia is the latest in a string of critics and perceived enemies of the...
Tunisia: Election data shows 30.5% turnout in constitutional referendum, more than 94% in favor
The final results of a controversial referendum granting unchecked powers to the office of Tunisia's President Kais Saied showed 94.6 percent of votes in favour, the electoral authority said Tuesday. Voters overwhelmingly approved the new constitution, the electoral...
Tunisia: Conflict between judiciary and President Kais Saied intensifies
Tunisia's judicial authorities on Wednesday revoked the sacking in early June by President Kais Saied of almost 50 judges, a court spokesman told AFP. A June 1 presidential decree in the North African country saw Saied fire 57 judges, after accusing many of corruption...
Migration: Hundreds of migrants rescued off the coast of Tunisia
Tunisian coastguards "rescued" more than 250 migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, the North African country's National Guard said on Sunday. Maritime authorities "were able... to rescue 255 would-be migrants, including 170 people of...
Tunisia: Draft constitution gives president immense powers
Tunisian President Kais Saied published an amended version of a draft constitution late Friday in an attempt to ward off criticism after the original was slammed for the nearly unlimited power it gave his office. The new constitution, which will be put to a referendum...
Tunisia: UGTT union boss says IMF conditions for loans drastic and unacceptable
The head of Tunisia's powerful UGTT trade union confederation on Thursday rejected conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for a new loan to bail out the country's struggling economy. "We reject the conditions set by the IMF, given Tunisians' low salaries,...
Tunisia: Former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali arrested
Tunisian police on Thursday arrested former prime minister Hamadi Jebali, an ex-senior figure in the Ennahdha party which is the nemesis of current President Kais Saied, Jebali's lawyer said. He could not say why Jebali was detained. "The police arrested Mr Jebali...
Tunisia: Regime uses military court to punish opponents of President Kais Saied
A Tunisian military court upheld a one-year prison sentence Friday against a prominent critic of President Kais Saied convicted of "attacking the dignity of the army", his lawyer told AFP. The Tunis Military Court of Appeal also banned Seifeddine Makhlouf, head of...
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