President Kais Saied - The African Mirror

Jul

2021

Tunisian president replaces head of television station

TUNISIAN President Kais Saied removed the head of the national television station, Mohamed al-Dahach, on Wednesday and appointed a temporary replacement, his office said, after calls to protect free speech. Saied on Sunday invoked emergency powers to seize control of the government, remove the prime minister and freeze Parliament in a move his foes have called a coup. He removed Dahach after an incident on Wednesday afternoon when officials from the journalists' syndicate and human rights league said they were forbidden entry to the station even though they had been invited to appear on a show. Amira Mohammed, the deputy…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Tunisian Islamists move to ease tensions, unions demand roadmap

NEWS

TAEK AMARA TUNISIA’S leading Islamist party has moved to ease the country's political crisis, calling for dialogue and urging supporters not to protest after accusing President Kais Saied of launching a coup. Tunisia faced its worst political crisis in a decade of democracy after Saied, backed by the army, sacked the prime minister and froze parliament on Sunday, sparking concern in Western capitals that have praised its transition from autocracy since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011. Influential civil society groups, including the powerful labour union, warned Saied not to extend extraordinary measures he announced on Sunday beyond a month…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Reactions to Tunisia’s democratic crisis

NEWS

TUNISIAN President Kais Saied has sacked the prime minister and froze the activities of parliament, leading his opponents to accuse him of a coup. This is a selection of what significant players in and outside Tunisia, where regional opinion was often split between states that are friendly or hostile to Islamist ideology, had to say. Tunisian President Kais Saïed. Photo source: Wikipedia THE PRESIDENT Saied said his actions were in line with the constitution, a response to "hypocrisy, treachery and robbery of the rights of the people" by the political class and denied conducting a coup. He warned that violent…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Tunisian democracy in crisis, president ousts govt

NEWS

TAREK AMARA and ANGUS McDOWALL TUNISIA faces its biggest crisis in a decade of democracy after President Kais Saied ousted the government and froze parliament in a move that appeared to be backed by the army but was labelled a coup by foes including influential Islamists. It follows months of deadlock and disputes between Saied, a political independent, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and a fragmented parliament as Tunisia has descended deeper into an economic crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, the head of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party which has played a role in successive coalitions,…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

UN concerned by Tunisian police violations

NEWS

THE United Nations human rights office in Tunisia said it is concerned about repeated allegations of serious violations by the Tunisian police, amid violent protests against police abuse that rocked the capital for six nights. The protests erupted after a video showing police stripping and beating a young man triggered widespread anger. The video prompted criticism from political parties, local human rights organizations and President Kais Saied. Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said the officers involved were arrested and the incident was unacceptable. "These serious and repeated violations since the beginning of the year reveal continuing dysfunctions within the internal security…