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Tunisia

August 15, 2025

Tunis 12:15 pm

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Meloni Saied

Italy’s Meloni discusses immigration, economic ties on Tunisia visit: What to know

The two countries have strengthened their ties in the past years, signing several agreements on economic, trade and energy cooperation.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: U.S. President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of the White House followed by granddaughter Chloe after returning on Marine One on July 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump returned to the White House with his family after a trip to Scotland that was part vacation, part work, as he stayed at his Trump Turnberry golf course, followed by Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, from July 25 to 29. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Analysis

Middle East braces for Trump's tariffs: Gulf gains, North Africa strains as both hedge

The tariffs could be wins for the Gulf states, as many have trade surpluses with the United States, while some in North Africa and the Levant, with trade deficits, stand to lose.

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

MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Trump tariffs, BRICS threats unlikely to erode Middle East’s trade war edge

The US decision to delay tariff penalties until Aug. 1 doesn't dramatically impact the Middle East, but the coming weeks could still have important ripple effects in the region.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

US President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025, in Washington.

From Iraq to Algeria, Trump’s looming tariffs could target 4 MENA countries

The United States has a trade deficit with Iraq, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, according to the US government, prompting the president to send them letters warning of new tariffs.

Latest News

Iran sends senior delegation to Algeria, Tunisia as relations warm

Algerian People's National Council

Analysis

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

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

Francisco Serrano

By Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Analysis

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

Inside a warehouse used by Jumia.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur drops out of 2024 tennis circuit

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Gays in Tunisia still suffer under archaic laws

A new report on Tunisia's sodomy law highlights how members of the LGBTQ community who turn to police for protection can instead be subjected to abuse and violence.

Interview

Qatar says divisions within GCC have become ‘lose-lose’ situation for the region

Qatari spokesperson says the split among the Gulf states compromises the security of the region and that thousands of families are already paying a price.

Hospital-acquired infection kills 15 infants in Tunisia

Outrage flared in Tunisia when 15 infants died at a state-run hospital after they were given formula later found to contain bacteria.

Tunisian activists call for regulating cannabis production, distribution

A youth initiative is drafting a proposal to legalize cannabis and monitor its use and distribution, to be presented to parliament.

Tunisia ends decadeslong agreement with France

Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed decided to terminate an agreement with a French company exploiting sea salt, ending France’s monopoly over Tunisia’s salt market, which has been ongoing since the colonial era — but is this move part of an early electoral campaign?

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, touches down at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, April 9, 2016. The U.S. Air Force deployed B-52 bombers to Qatar on Saturday to join the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the first time they have been based in the Middle East since the end of the Gulf War in 1991. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Corey Hook/Handout via Reuters THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTE

Plan to charge allies for US troop presence carries risks for Americans in North Africa

US President Donald Trump’s reported plan to charge allies for US military bases could make it harder to protect diplomats and embassies throughout Africa.

Tunisia's Central Bank governor Marouane El Abassi arrives at a news conference in Tunis, Tunisia, February 20, 2019. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi - RC1CFDF02380

Will latest interest rate hike break Tunisia’s back?

Following Tunisia's third interest rate hike in 12 months, economic and political experts sound the alarm on shrinking purchasing power while the nation's largest trade union calls for protests.

A sign is seen at the edge of Remada, Tunisia April 11, 2016. Tunisia's 2011 uprising created fertile ground for jihadist recruiters. Hundreds of Islamist militants were freed from prison as part of an amnesty for those detained under Ben Ali. Ultra-conservative salafists began to flex their muscle, seizing control of mosques and clashing with secularists. As Tunisia's politics have stabilised, the government has reasserted control, taking back mosques, banning the local al Qaeda affiliate Ansar al Sharia,

Intel: How latest beheading could signal jihadi comeback in Tunisia

Policemen in plain clothes force LGBT activists Radio Shams host, Fares Hadj Amor (C) and Femen's Amina Sboui into a vehicle as they disperse a protest in Tunis on January 27, 2018.
A call had been made to protest outside the tourism ministry under the hashtag "#Sayebni" ("Let me go") to demand the repeal of "retrograde" laws and the end of "the criminalisation of sexual freedom and discrimination against women". / AFP PHOTO / FETHI BELAID (Photo credit should read FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images)

Tunisian man jailed for reporting rape highlights LGBT struggles

After reporting his rape this past January, a Tunisian man was jailed and sentenced to six months in prison, sparking anger in the LGBT community.

Tunisians celebrate landmark ruling against president

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has lost his legal case against a citizen, a decision being hailed as a first for civil rights progress there.

A picture taken on March 22, 2016 shows vehicles waiting near the Tunisian customs post at the Ras Jedir border crossing with Libya, south of the town of Ben Guerdane, after it was reopened after a two-week closure in response to a deadly jihadist attack on a town near the frontier.
Both the Ras Jedir crossing on the Mediterranean coast and the Dehiba crossing in the mountainous desert interior reopened at 0600 GMT, ministry spokesman Yasser Mesbah said.Tunisia closed the two crossings on March 7 when doze

What fate awaits Tunisia's returning jihadis?

As one of the top countries of origin for foreign IS recruits, Tunisia has struggled to address domestic threats of returning jihadis and how to de-radicalize these youths.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita meets Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Morocco's capital Rabat, January 25, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer - RC121B4F3DC0

Russia keeps plugging away at cooperation with North Africa

During his tour around the Maghreb, Foreign Minister Lavrov showed Russia has a genuine interest in developing stronger ties with regional states, but the number of roadblocks in the way raise questions about Moscow's ability to go past "strategic declarations" anytime soon.