Kais Saied - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Tunisian court imprisons journalist for insulting public official, his lawyer says

A Tunisian court sentenced the prominent journalist Mohamed Boughalab, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, to six months in prison on charges of insulting a public official, his lawyer told Reuters. "It is a black day for the judiciary and freedom of the press. It is a message to the press: Be silent or your place is in prison," Jamal Eddine Boughalab, who is the brother of Mohamed, said. Boughalab was detained last month, which the journalists' union said was aimed at silencing the voices of journalists.

Feb

2024

By TAREK AMARA

Tunisia court sentences ex-president Marzouki to 8 years in absentia

NEWS

A Tunisian court sentenced former President Moncef Marzouki to eight years in prison in absentia on charges of assaulting the state security and inciting Tunisians against each other, a judicial official said. This is the second prison sentence against Marzouki, who resides in Paris after a judge sentenced him in 2021 to four years in absentia. Mohamed Zitouna, the spokesperson of the Tunis court, said the verdict was based on statements by Marzouki that included incitement in a speech he gave in Paris, without giving further details. Marzouki, who was president from 2011 to 2014, is a fierce critic of President…

Feb

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisian opposition leader Ghannouchi sentenced to three years in prison

NEWS

A Tunisian judge sentenced opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, to three years in prison on charges of accepting external financing, his lawyer Monia Bouali told Reuters. Ghannouchi, 82, head of the Ennahda main opposition party, has been in prison since April. Last year he was sentenced to a year in prison on charges of incitement against police. Bouali added that the court also imprisoned Ghannouchi’s son-in-law Rafik Abdessalem who is a senior Ennahda official, to three years in prison in the same case, in addition to fining the Islamist party $1.1 million. Ennahda in a statement…

Jan

2024

By TAREK AMARA

Tunisian cabinet approves bill allowing the central bank to finance the treasury

BUSINESS

THE Tunisian cabinet approved a controversial bill allowing the central bank to finance the treasury, in a move aimed at financing the budget deficit but which reinforced fears over the bank's independence. Last year, President Kais Saied said the law must be reviewed to allow the central bank to finance the budget directly by buying state bonds, a step bank governor Marouan Abassi has warned against. Economists believe the bill's approval by the cabinet enhances speculation the governor, who has headed the bank for six years, will leave the post next month at the end of his first term. Critics of the…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisian journalist detained after criticising minister

MEDIA FREEDOM

TUNISIAN judicial authorities ordered that prominent journalist Zied El-Heni should be detained and tried on charges of defamation, days after he criticised the trade minister, his lawyer said. El-Heni will have his first court hearing on January 10 on the charge of "defaming others on social media," his lawyer Ayachi Hammami told reporters. Police first arrested him on Thursday after he made comments about the minister on local radio in an interview that was posted on Facebook, Tunisia's state news agency said. Tunisia's journalists union demanded his immediate release, calling his detention a "violation of legal provisions governing the trial…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian opposition figure Moussi begins hunger strike in prison

NEWS

ABIR Moussi, a prominent opponent of Tunisian President Kais Saied, went on a hunger strike in prison to protest what her lawyers said was a violation of her rights to freedom and political activity. A judge last month ordered Moussi's imprisonment after police arrested her at the presidential palace entrance on suspicion of assault intended to cause chaos, part of a crackdown on opposition politicians. Moussi is the leader of the Free Constitutional Party (PDL), which warned in a statement against "attempts to fabricate legal obstacles to remove her from participating in the presidential elections" expected next year. Her lawyers said in…

Oct

2023

By GABRIELA BACZYNSKA and TAREK AMARA

Analysis: Tunisia brush-off augurs badly for EU push for African migration deals

NEWS

WHEN Tunisian President Kais Saied this month rejected 60 million euros ($63 million) in EU aid, the bloc got a taste of the risks and challenges it will face as it seeks new pacts with African states to reduce irregular Mediterranean immigration. Spurred by Italy and Spain, the European Union has embraced the idea of sealing what it terms strategic cooperation deals in North Africa as the best tool to curb unauthorised arrivals. But security risks, high costs, a lack of trust, and African countries' incapacity or unwillingness to tighten their borders or asylum systems highlight the shortcomings of a policy that rights groups…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia president sacks the economy minister over statement about IMF

NEWS

TUNISIAN President Kais Saied has sacked Economy Minister Samir Saied after fresh statements that a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be vital for obtaining other foreign financing. The president strongly opposes what he described as the dictates of the IMF, saying that the IMF is "not sacred" and its conditions will lead to protests. The minister told TAP state news agency on Tuesday that "lenders are wondering about Tunisia's talks with the IMF." adding that "any deal would give a strong signal to the rest of the financiers." Tunisia last year reached a staff-level deal with the…

Oct

2023

By TAREK AMARA

Tunisia to keep fuel, food subsidies in 2024, raise taxes for banks, others

BUSINESS

TUNISIA expects its economy to grow by 2.1% in 2024, up from 0.9% in 2023 and plans almost the same subsidies for fuel, electricity and food while raising taxes for banks, hotels and liquor firms, a bill on its budget showed on Tuesday. The bill included no reference to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Tunisia's President Kais Saied this year rejected what he called IMF 'diktats' saying they could lead to social protests, casting doubt on the IMF deal. Tunisia last year reached a staff-level deal with the IMF for a $1.9 billion loan, but it has…

Oct

2023

By TAREK AMARA

Tunisia detains Abir Moussi, prominent opponent of president

NEWS

TUNISIA'S public prosecutor detained Abir Moussi, a prominent opponent of President Kais Saied after she was arrested at the entrance to the presidential palace, lawyers said, the latest arrest targeting Saied's political rivals. "Moussi was detained for 48 hours in charges of processing personal data, obstructing the right to work, and assault intended to cause chaos", lawyer Aroussi Zgir said. Authorities were not immediately available to comment. An assistant of Moussi said in a video on Facebook that Moussi was "kidnapped" in front of the Carthage Palace. Moussi leads the Free Constitutional Party and is a supporter of late president…