Hichem Mechichi - The African Mirror

Oct

2020

Tunisian protesters clash with police after man dies in bulldozed kiosk

HUNDREDS of stone-throwing protesters clashed with police in a provincial Tunisian town after authorities bulldozed an unlicensed cigarette kiosk, killing its owner sleeping inside, witnesses said. Street protests are frequent in Tunisia, where a popular uprising toppled autocratic rule nearly a decade ago and ushered in democracy but little economic progress, with living standards for many still low, unemployment high and corruption rife. In the town of Sheitla, the site of an ancient Roman city in Tunisia's hilly, impoverished interior, residents blocked roads with burning tyres and threw stones at police, who chased, witnesses said. Soldiers were then deployed to…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia to ban gatherings, cut public-sector work hours due to pandemic

COVID-19

TUNISIAN authorities will ban all gatherings and reduce working hours for employees in the public sector in order to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has announced. The decision was taken amid strong fears that hospitals in the North African nation will be unable to cope with a high number of patients because of the shortage of intensive-care beds. The total number of coronavirus cases has jumped to more than 20,000 compared with roughly 1,000 cases before the country's borders were reopened on June 27. In a speech announcing the latest measures to combat the…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia reports daily coronavirus record of 1308 cases

COVID-19

TUNISIA recorded 1,308 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the health ministry has said, a record since the start of the pandemic, prompting the government to impose a night curfew in two governorates. The total number of cases has jumped to around 20,000 compared with roughly 1,000 cases before the country's borders were opened on June 27. The total number of deaths has reached 271, the Health Ministry said. Hichem Mechichi, Tunisia's Prime Minister-designate. The authorities on Thursday imposed a night curfew in Sousse and Monastir, two coastal governorates, to curb the increase in infections, amid fears that hospitals will…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Three militants killed after fatal attack on policeman in Tunisia

NEWS

POLICE in Tunisia chased and shot dead three suspected Islamist militants after they attacked two police officers, killing one of them, in the coastal city of Sousse on Sunday, the authorities said. Five years ago an Islamic State militant shot dead 39 foreigners on a beach in Sousse, triggering an exodus of tourists and severely damaging its economy. Since then Tunisia has grown more effective in preventing and responding to attacks, foreign diplomats say, but sleeper cells still pose a real threat to the country, especially with the return of jihadists from Syria, Iraq and Libya. “Terrorists stabbed two policemen…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia PM-designate to form technocratic govt without parties

NEWS

TAREK AMARA TUNISIA's prime minister-designate said on Monday he would form a purely technocratic government following wrangling among political parties over the formation of the country's next administration. The decision by Hichem Mechichi will likely put him in confrontation with the moderate Islamist Ennahda Party, the largest political group in parliament, which announced it would oppose the formation of a non-political government. However, the proposal for a government of independent technocrats without political parties will win support from the powerful UGTT trade union and some other parties, including Tahya Tounes and Dustoury el Hor. Mechichi said that the government's focus…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia president designates new PM amid hopes of ending political crisis

NEWS

TAREK AMARA TUNISIAN President Kais Saied on Saturday designated the interior minister as the new prime minister to succeed Elyes Fakhfakh, who resigned over allegations of a conflict of interest, the presidency said. New premier Hichem Mechichi pledged to respond to the social and economic demands that have spawned constant protests in the North African country. "I will work to form a government that meets the aspirations of all Tunisians and to respond to their legitimate demands," Mechichi said. Hichem Mechichi. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Mechichi, 46, an independent, now has a month to form a government capable of winning a…