Tunisia

04 Apr 2023; MEMO: Dozens of Tunisians broke their fast together yesterday in front of the women's prison in Manouba Governorate while protesting in support of the arrested activist Shaima Issa, a member of the opposition's National Salvation Front.

According to the correspondent from Anadolu news agency, Issa's family and members of the families of other political prisoners participated in the action to condemn the arbitrary detentions.

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: Tunisia's Health Minister Ali Murrabit, yesterday refused to comment on the news circulating on social media about the health of President Kais Saied.

The minister chose to remain silent when asked about the news of the president's illness.

Several Facebook users, as well as some of Saied's opponents, shared news suggesting that he suffered a health setback, preventing him from carrying out his usual activities.

01 Apr 2023; MEMO: Tunisian President Kais Saied on Thursday dismissed Mosbah Kardemin, the governor of the Gabes governorate, who was appointed on 6 June, 2022, from his duties and prosecuted him for "committing illegal acts."

The Tunisian presidency announced that Saied has: "Decided to dismiss Mosbah Kardemin, the governor of Gabes, from his duties," according to Anadolu Agency.

01 Apr 2023; MEMO: Tunisian authorities announced on Friday that they would begin cutting off drinking water for seven hours daily across the country to address the water scarcity and drought crisis.

TUNIS, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 19 refugees and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have drowned off the coast of Tunisia while trying to cross the Mediterranean and reach Italy, according to a human rights group.

Reports of the deaths came early on Sunday as Italy’s ANSA news agency said more than 2,000 asylum seekers had arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa within 24 hours.

The agency described the arrivals on Saturday as a “record”.

24 Mar 2023; MEMO: At least 34 African migrants were missing on Friday after their boat sank off Tunisia, the fifth shipwreck in two days, raising the total number of missing to 67 amid a sharp increase in boats heading towards Italy, Tunisian officials said.

23 Mar 2023; MEMO: The family of jailed Tunisian parliamentarian and Ennhada Movement leader, Said Ferjani, has filed a legal appeal, calling on the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on Tunisian officials, including President Kais Saied, for gross human rights violations, family lawyer, Saber Al-Obeidi, said.

The appeal was filed under the UK's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020.

The case also includes Tunisia's Justice Minister, Leïla Jaffel, and former Interior Minister, Taoufik Charfeddine.

21 Mar 2023; MEMO: Tunisian President Kais Saied said that his country "refuses interference in its internal affairs because it is not under mandate or guardianship".

This came during a speech on Monday, during Saied's visit to the city of Kairouan (Centre), according to a video posted by the Tunisian presidency's Facebook account.

"We will protect our national sovereignty and reject those who interfere in our affairs again because we are not under mandate, nor under any kind of guardianship, "said Saied.

18 Mar 2023; MEMO: Tunisian Minister of Interior Taoufik Charfeddine announced his resignation from his position on Friday evening with the approval of President Kais Saied.

This came in a media statement by the minister, broadcast by Ibtissama FM radio station on Friday evening.

13 Mar 2023; MEMO: Tunisia's Ennahda Movement said, Monday, it will not recognise the legitimacy of the country's new Parliament, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The newly-elected Parliament convened for the first time in the capital, Tunis, on Monday.

In a statement, Ennahda said it "will not recognise a Parliament that lacks legitimacy emanated from elections that were boycotted by more than 90 per cent of Tunisians".