CDE News - The Dispatch

U.S. voices concern over Tunisian democracy

TUNIS (Reuters) - The United States raised concerns over Tunisia's democracy after President Kais Saied introduced a new constitution giving himself far more powers, but the broad reaction among Western democracies was…

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Tunisian officials say new constitution passed in vote with low turnout

A new Tunisian constitution giving far more power to President Kais Saied passed in a referendum with a 30.5% turnout, the electoral commission said, tightening his grip in what critics…

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Tunisians vote on constitution expanding president’s power

TUNIS, July 25 (Reuters) - Tunisians began voting on Monday in a referendum on a new constitution that critics of President Kais Saied fear will maul the democracy that emerged from a…

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FACTBOX-How Tunisia’s president has tightened his grip on power

TUNIS, July 24 (Reuters) - President Kais Saied has been steadily consolidating his grip over Tunisia since seizing broad powers a year ago. As he puts a new constitution to…

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Hundreds protest Tunisian new constitution referendum

TUNIS (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Tunis on Saturday to demonstrate against a referendum to be held on Monday on a new constitution that they reject as…

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Tunisians protest against referendum for controversial new constitution

Tunisian police blocked hundreds of demonstrators from reaching electoral commission offices on Thursday as protesters took to the streets against a referendum on a new constitution that would expand the…

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Tunisian opposition leader faces money laundering allegations

TUNIS, July 6 (Reuters) - Tunisia's main opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi has been summoned by a judge over money laundering allegations, his Ennahda party said on Wednesday, accusing the authorities of targeting…

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Tunisian constitution panel head blasts president’s draft

TUNIS, July 3 (Reuters) - The head of Tunisia's constitution committee blasted a proposed constitution published by President Kais Saied, local media reported on Sunday, reinforcing opposition fears that Saied was seeking…

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Tunisia’s Saied unpicks young ‘Arab Spring’ democracy

TUNIS, (Reuters) - President Kais Saied has proposed a new constitution that would formalise his sweeping seizure of powers after dismantling much of Tunisia's young democracy over 11 turbulent months.…

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UPDATED: Tunisian president’s critics assail his constitution plan

TUNIS, July 1 (Reuters) - President Kais Saied is trashing Tunisia's democracy with a draft constitution that he announced overnight and will put to a referendum next month, his critics warned on…

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Tunisian judges extend strike over sackings for fourth week

Tunisian judges decided to extend their national strike for a fourth week in protest against a decision by President Kais Saied to sack dozens of them, a joint statement by…

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Tunisian party says will not recognise any deal with international lenders

TUNIS, (Reuters) - One of Tunisia's main political parties, the Constitutional Free Party, said it would not recognise any agreement that Tunis makes with international lenders in exchange for unpopular reforms, the…

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Tunisia’s Saied unpicks young ‘Arab Spring’ democracy

President Kais Saied has gathered nearly all state power in his hands after dismantling much of Tunisia's young democracy over 11 turbulent months. But as he prepares for a referendum…

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Tunisians protest against constitution referendum as opposition grows

TUNIS, June 18 (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tunis on Saturday in opposition to a referendum on a new constitution called by President Kais Saied that would…

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Strike paralyses Tunisia

TUNIS, June 16 (Reuters) - A powerful labour union brought much of Tunisia to a standstill on Thursday as it went on strike over government economic reform plans, a new challenge to…

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EU disburses 162 million euro grant to Tunisia

CAIRO, June 16 (Reuters) - The European Union had disbursed a 162 million euro ($168.64 million) grant to Tunisia as a part of a program to support government reforms in areas like…

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Photo Story: The Choreographic Days of Carthage

Tunisian dancers perform choreographies by Tunisian choreographer Hela Fattoumi and French choreographer Eric Lamoureux during the 4th edition of the Carthage Choreographic Days in Tunis, Tunisia. The event runs from…

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Tunisian judges extend their strike, journalist arrested

TUNIS, (Reuters) - Tunisian judges extended their strike for a second week after President Kais Saied refused to reverse a decision to dismiss dozens of them, judges' unions said in a joint…

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Tunisian judges to suspend work in courts for a week after president fired 57 judges

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian judges will suspend work in courts for a week and hold a sit-in to protest against the president's firing of dozens of judges, a judge said…

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U.S. says Tunisia undermining democratic institutions after purge of judges

Washington accused Tunisia's President Kais Saied of undermining the country's democratic institutions after he fired dozens of judges amid a raft of measures that appeared designed to consolidate one-man rule.…

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Tunisian president purges judges after instituting one-man rule

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's president sacked 57 judges on Wednesday, accusing them of corruption and protecting terrorists in a purge of the judiciary that comes as he seeks to remake the political…

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75 people missing, one dead, after migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

Seventy five people were missing after a crowded boat of migrants sank off Tunisia on Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration said and a security official said, as the numbers…

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Tunisian president excludes parties from preparing new constitution

Tunisian President Kais Saied named a law professor to head an advisory committee to draft a new constitution for a "new republic", the presidency said, excluding political parties from restructuring…

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Tunisia sees 2022 budget deficit expanding to 9.7% from 6.7% previously expected

TUNIS, May 20 (Reuters) - Tunisia's budget deficit will expand to 9.7% of GDP this year, compared to a previously expected 6.7%, due to the stronger dollar and sharp increase in grain and…

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Four migrants die, 10 others missing after a migrant boat sank off the Tunisian coast

(Reuters) - At least 4 migrants died and another 10 were missing after a boat sank off Tunisia on Thursday, as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a…

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Demonstration on Sunday in Tunis against Tunisian President Kais Saied

Tunisians shout slogans during a demonstration against Tunisian President Kais Saied in Tunis, Tunisia. Tunisians protest against the latest measures taken by President Kais Saied, which they describe as a…

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Tunisian president hints he will not accept foreign observers in next elections

TUNIS, (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied indicated on Thursday he will not accept foreign observers for votes he plans this year to change the political system after having already taken control…

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Tunisian coast guard retrieves bodies of three migrants, rescues 250 others

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian coast guards retrieved the bodies of three migrants whose boat sank off Tunisia and rescued about 250 others in a number of separate incidents, security official…

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Tunisia to raise the prices of some foodstuffs

TUNIS, May 11 (Reuters) - Tunisia will raise the prices of some foods including milk, eggs and poultry this week, the agriculture minister said, following protests by farmers against a jump in…

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Tunisia finds 24 more bodies of migrants after boats sank in April

TUNIS, May 4 (Reuters) - Tunisia's coastguard has retrieved 24 more bodies of migrants who had been among about 120 people on boats that sank off the Tunisian coast at the end…

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Tunisia’s dinar hits record low versus dollar

TUNIS, April 29 (Reuters) - Tunisia's dinar currency has fallen to record lows versus the dollar, driven down by high inflation, a worsening trade deficit and the severe impact of the Ukraine…

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U.S. says it’s deeply concerned by Tunisia’s move to restructure the election authority

The United States is "deeply concerned" by the Tunisian president's decision to restructure the election authority in the country, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. Tunisia's president seized control of…

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Tunisia detains crew of ship that sank off its coast this month

TUNIS, April 27 (Reuters) - A Tunisian judge detained seven crew members of a commercial ship that sank off the coast of the southern city of Gabes this month, a…

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At least 12 dead, another 10 missing as four migrant boats sink off Tunisia

TUNIS (Reuters) -At least 12 African migrants died and another 10 were missing after four boats carrying 120 migrants sank off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to…

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Tunisia, others seek to limit damage after ship sinks carrying fuel

TUNIS, April 17 (Reuters) - Tunisia will work with other countries that have offered to help it to prevent environmental damage after a merchant ship carrying up to one thousand tonnes of…

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UPDATED: Tunisia says countries offer help to tackle impact of fuel ship’s sinking

TUNIS, April 17 (Reuters) - Some countries have offered to help Tunisia prevent damage to the environment after a merchant ship carrying up to one thousand tonnes of oil sank off the…

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UPDATE – Merchant fuel ship heading to Malta sinks off Tunisia

TUNIS (Reuters/AFP) - A merchant fuel ship heading from Equatorial Guinea to Malta sank off the coast of Gabes in Tunisia on Friday, two security sources told Reuters, adding that…

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Tunisia detains a journalist who criticized police, second reporter held in a month

TUNIS (Reuters) - A Tunisian court detained a journalist who criticised police and the interior minister, the main journalism union said, denouncing a setback in freedom of expression since President Kais Saied…

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Tunisair’s revenues jump by 178% in the first quarter

TUNIS, April 13 (Reuters) - Revenues at Tunisia's national carrier Tunisair jumped by 178% in the first quarter this year to 216 million dinars ($72.12 million), the company said on Wednesday, as it…

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Tunisia hikes local purchase price of wheat, plans self-sufficiency in durum wheat

TUNIS, April 6 (Reuters) - Tunisia said on Wednesday it was raising the purchase price of wheat and barley from local farmers to encourage production and achieve food security, and that it…

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Tunisia crisis escalates as police summon opposition figures

TUNIS, April 1 (Reuters) - Tunisian anti-terrorism police summoned the country's main opposition figure for questioning on Friday, as a political crisis deepens in the wake of President Kais Saied's…

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Tunisia’s president rules out early elections after dissolving parliament

(Reuters) -Tunisia’s parliamentary elections won’t be held within the next three months, President Kais Saied said late on Thursday during a meeting with Prime Minister Najla Bouden, according to a…

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Tunisian crisis escalates as president dissolves parliament

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied late on Wednesday issued a decree dissolving parliament, which has been suspended since last year, after it defied him by voting to repeal decrees that…

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Tunisian union warns of public sector strike over reforms

TUNIS, March 30 (Reuters) - Tunisia's powerful labour union warned on Wednesday public sector workers could strike to oppose economic reforms the government has proposed to try to secure an International Monetary…

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World Bank approves $400 million for Tunisia to help vulnerable households

TUNIS, (Reuters) - The World Bank said it approved $400 million for Tunisia to help about 900,000 vulnerable Tunisian households cope with the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. It…

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Tunisia says it has dismantled 150 militant cells in past 6 months

TUNIS, March 26 (Reuters) - Tunisian police forces have dismantled about 150 militant cells in the past six months, a spokesman for the National Guard said on Saturday. He added that some…

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Photo Story: Italian cruise ship first to dock in Tunisia since 2019

The Spirit of Discovery cruise ship arrives at La Goulette port in Tunis, Tunisia, 23 March 2022. The Italian cruise ship, with 724 tourists on board, is the first to…

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Two trains collided in Tunisian capital, 65 injured

TUNIS, March 21 (Reuters) - At least 65 people were injured in a collision between two trains in the Tunisian capital, officials said on Monday. They said dozens of passengers were taken…

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UPDATED: Tunisian president offers dialogue, but without giving details

TUNIS, March 21 (Reuters) - Tunisia's president said on Monday there would be a national dialogue about the country's political system as he moves to rewrite the constitution after establishing one-man rule,…

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Death toll from migrant shipwreck off Tunisia rises to 25, fears of 35 others drowned

TUNIS, March 21 (Reuters) - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the death toll from a migrant shipwreck off Tunisia at the weekend rose to 25, amid fears that 35 others…

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Photo Story: Anti-government protests in Tunisia

Demonstrators hold Tunisian national flags during a protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied's seizure of governing powers, during the 66th anniversary of Tunisia's independence in Tunis, Tunisia, 20 March 2022.…

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Death toll from migrant shipwreck off Tunisia rises to 17

TUNIS (Reuters) - The death toll from a migrant shipwreck off Tunisia on Friday has risen to 17 people, most of them Syrians, as they tried to cross the Mediterranean…

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Tunisia’s labour union demands dialogue, changes to reform proposals

TUNIS, March 17 (Reuters) - Tunisia's powerful UGTT labour union will not remain silent if authorities do not include it in a dialogue over the country's political and economic future, its deputy…

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Tunisia’s labour union says it opposes painful economic reforms

TUNIS, March 16 (Reuters) - The head of Tunisia's powerful UGTT labour union on Wednesday said it opposed "painful" reforms wanted by lenders as the government seeks an international rescue package to avert…

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Tunisian military judge imprisons opponent of president

Tunisian military judge ordered on Wednesday the imprisonment of Abd Errazak Kilani, a lawyer and prominent opponent of President Kais Saied, who seized almost all powers in July, for inciting…

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Tunisia’s Saied to bar foreign funding for civil society

Tunisia's President Kais Saied announced he will outlaw foreign funding for civil society organisations as he tries to remake the country's politics after establishing one-man rule. Civil society organisations, including…

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Tunisia to raise electricity and fuel prices

TUNIS, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Tunisia plans to lower electricity and fuel subsidies to reduce a budget deficit driven by high oil prices, Tunisian Industry and Energy Minister Naila Nouira told newspaper…

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