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Tunisia

November 20, 2024

Tunis 2:41 pm

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Tunisia's president, Kais Saied, attends his swearing-in ceremony before the National Assembly in Tunis on Oct. 21, 2024.

Analysis

As Saied begins new term as president, Tunisians brace for unstable governance

In a second presidential term, Tunisia’s increasingly autocratic ruler is unlikely to secure the political and economic stability the country craves.

Francisco Serrano

By Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Inside a warehouse used by Jumia.

Analysis

Tunisia risks missing e-commerce boom as Jumia exits, startup investment lags

Despite efforts to build Tunisia's digital economy, the North African country still presents challenges for global e-commerce, impacting growth prospects for new products and services.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur drops out of 2024 tennis circuit

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, currently ranked 22nd in the Women's Tennis Association, will step away from tennis until 2025 as she recovers from a shoulder injury.

FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images

Tunisians head to streets in protest as election nears

The protests over what people claim is a skewed election process will take place near Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis.

Latest News

At Africa summit, China elevates ties with Libya, invests $14M in Egypt

China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang (C) delivers his speech.

Tunisia’s green hydrogen strategy will need domestic stakeholders

Solar pannels cover the rooftops of the buildings of the Makhtar boarding school on September 29, 2022, in the Tunisian central-west region of the same name. - The Makthar boarding school, a unique business initiative is both generating income and opening pupils' minds to the outside world. Lotfi Hamadi, founder of the NGO "Wallah (Swear to God) We Can", is hoping that helping schools boost their resources through food and energy production can breathe new life into Tunisia's failing, cash-strapped educatio

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Analysis

As Europe's far right surges, North Africa immigration takes center stage

Migrants from Tunisia and Lybia arrive onboard of an Italian Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard) boat in the Italian Pelagie Island of Lampedusa on Aug. 1, 2020.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Al-Monitor/Premise poll finds Biden's unpopularity in Mideast makes room for China, Russia to outshine US

(L-R) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi wave hands during the group photo session, a head of the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries, on the sideline of the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen, southeastern China's Fujian Province on Sept. 5, 2017.

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Kais Saied Hashani

Tunisia’s president appoints new prime minister amid deepening crisis

The country is facing growing economic woes amid pressure to approve an IMF rescue program.

Tunisian employees of travel agencies and the tourism sector demonstrate in front of the Tourism Ministry on October 20, 2020 in Tunis to call for state subsidies in consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. - Tunisia, which was already battling high unemployment before the start of the pandemic, has seen a record shrinking of its economy. The key tourist industry has all but collapsed, with tourism income plunging 60 percent and swathes of hotels likely to close permanently, officials said last month. (

Tunisia gains economic breathing room with boost from Saudi Arabia, but budget problems linger 

A $500 million boost from Saudi Arabia is providing short-term relief to Tunisia’s government as it struggles to meet debt obligations and cover the state budget.

Stephen Quillen

Stephen Quillen

MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images

Tunisian wins gold at world swimming championships

Tunisia has a history of success in swimming, and athletes from the North African country have also performed well in tennis and soccer recently.

Ursula von der Leyen

EU commission sees Tunisia's migration deal as 'blueprint' for region

On July 16, the bloc agreed to spend 100 million euros on Tunisia to combat human trafficking and illegal crossings of the Mediterranean Sea.

Tunisian demonstrators raise national flags and protest placards as they take to the streets of the capital Tunis, on January 14, 2023, to protest against their president. - In July 2021, President Kais Saied sacked the government, froze parliament and seized far-reaching executive powers, later grabbing control of the judiciary -- moves opponents said aimed to install a new dictatorship in the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia to give Tunisia $500 million amid economic crisis

Tunisia is seeking help from the kingdom as well as the EU and the IMF as it battles debt and inflation.

Mark Rutte, Kais Saied, Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni

EU, Tunisia ink 'strategic partnership' to help economy, stem migrants

It comes after weeks of talks between the two parties about the EU providing around 1 billion euros in aid, which would be dependent on Tunisia's IMF bailout.

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia stretches to make a forehand against Aryna Sabalenka in the Women's Singles Semi Finals on day eleven of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 13, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: July 15, 2023, 12:44 pm

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur falls short at Wimbledon final, loses to Vondrousova

Jabeur, who has a massive following across North Africa and the Middle East, is still seeking her first Grand Slam win after falling short at Wimebledon for the second year in a row.

Noor Ouarzazate III

Analysis

Tunisia-Italy cable project part of effort to connect energy grids with Europe: World Bank

Other North African countries are also interested in connecting grids with Europe.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

A Moroccan farmer walks past solar panels that are connected to a generator which feeds a pump extracting water from underground in Tafoughalt, a little village deep in the mountains of Morocco's eastern Berkane province, on October 31, 2016. As the Cop22 gets underway in Marrakesh, negotiators are thrashing out the details of a landmark global agreement designed to stave off disastrous climate change, but in Tafoughalt that impact is being felt already. Rising temperatures are among the factors making the

How North Africa’s renewable energy regulations can boost FDI

Foreign investors and institutions are showing serious interest in North Africa’s renewable energy industry, but regulations remain key.

People are seen picking out sheep at a livestock market, in Tunis' Ariana region, ahead of the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha, amid an increase in livestock prices, June 21, 2023.

Eid's price tag: Tunisia’s inflation leaves sheep out of reach for many Muslims

With soaring prices, Tunisian families are struggling to afford the cherished tradition of buying a sheep for the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Kais Saeid, Ursula von der Leyen

Analysis

European aid, pressure on Tunisia’s IMF deal unlikely to allay migration concerns

European leaders visited the North African country over the weekend, hoping to work with Kais Saied's populist government to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund while reducing migration in the Mediterranean.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Tunisian President Kais Saied meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

US lawmakers urge aid for Tunisia's civil society as crackdown intensifies

The Biden administration’s proposal to slash economic assistance while largely sustaining military aid to Tunisia has drawn concern in Congress.