Economy Translation : Vanessa Szakal 02 January 2019

Finance law 2019: exacerbating debt, perpetuating fiscal injustice

Another hot summer in Tunisia gave way to teachers’ strikes in the fall, while winter follows suit with plans for a general strike on January 17. In this context, on December 10 the government adopted the Finance Law of 2019, a package of measures that perpetuate fiscal injustice, aiming to handle the country’s growing deficit by reaching into the pockets of those most impacted by economic crisis. Ahead of the 2019 elections, the new public budget was passed amidst a rejection rate of 30% in parliament, suscitating a new wave of popular and political rejection in the most recent test put to the government of prime minister Youssef Chahed.

Economie Traduction : Vanessa Szakal 08 Dec 2018

Enquête : Affaire Halq El Menzel, corruption ou mirage communicationnel ?

Déclenchée par le limogeage du ministre de l’Energie et quatre responsables du même ministère, la polémique sur l’affaire Halq El Menzel a duré peu de temps avant de tomber dans l’oubli. Accusant la société TOPIC d’exploiter ce champ pétrolifère sans autorisation depuis 2009, le gouvernement a ensuite révisé sa copie et a fini par résumer l’affaire en une confusion dans l’interprétation des articles du Code des Hydrocarbures. Quant aux soupçons de corruption, ils ont été plus tard présentés comme une simple question de négligence administrative. Ces évolutions ont laissé la société accusée dans une situation ambiguë et le gouvernement dans une position suspecte.

World Vanessa Szakal 26 November 2018

Interview: Tunisian physicist Nour Raouafi, on NASA’s mission to reach the Sun

Over the past month, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has been breaking space records left and right. On October 29, PSP became the closest and fastest human-made object orbiting the Sun, while October 31 marked its first solar « encounter ». In light of these events, Nawaat speaks with the Project Scientist of the NASA mission to reach our solar system’s star, the Sun. Nour Raouafi, Tunisian solar physicist at John Hopkins University Applied Sciences Lab which built the PSP spacecraft, describes the early phase of this seven-year journey into the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, and also talks about his own trajectory to working on this stellar mission.

Politics Translation : Vanessa Szakal 14 October 2018

Despite crimes in Yemen, Saudi airforces train in Tunisian skies

Since October 3, Saudi planes have launched into Tunisian skies, where joint military exercises are underway with Tunisian air forces. A statement issued by the Kingdom’s defense ministry describes the exercises as « highlighting the capabilities, professionalism and readiness of the Saudi airforce ». Such capabilities, which the Saudi regime seeks to « refine » with the help of Tunisia, were demonstrated on August 9 of this year when it targeted a school bus in Sana’a, Yemen, killing 29 children. With Saudi-Tunisian joint military exercises underway, Tunisia has provided Saudi Arabia with the airspace it needs to sharpen its knives before shedding more blood in Yemen.

Environment Vanessa Szakal 02 October 2018

Hammamet’s forest

Beginning in October, farmers in Tunisia’s northwest, particularly Beja, Jendouba, Zaghouan, will begin planting cereal crops like wheat and barley and leguminous crops including chickpea, lentil and faba which will both feed soil and stock pantries. A select few farmers in the region will also plant canola, an industrial oilseed supplied by French agribusiness giant Groupe AVRIL who is partnering with the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture to develop a canola sector that is « 100% Tunisian ». The project is in fact part of a decades-long push to introduce canola as a « locally grown » alternative to imported grains and oils.

Politics Translation : Vanessa Szakal 14 September 2018

Investigation: 3ich Tounsi, a « citizen movement » with political ambitions

3ich Tounsi has been the subject of lots of talk over the past months, suscitating a number of questions in its overexposure. Mega-events with ambiguous objectives, copiously-sponsored television and internet ads, opaque funding sources—such characteristics render 3ich Tounsi a veritable extra-terrestrial to the non-profit world, especially when it comes to the association’s discourse which has become more and more openly political.

Culture Vanessa Szakal 08 September 2018

Rouhanyet Mystic Fest : « Is this what you call peace and love? »

Rouhanyet Mystic Fest is celebrating Season of Peace, its third edition which takes place from September 5-9 in Tunis’ postcardesque Sidi Bou Saïd. Organized by actor Hichem Rostom and wife Sana Ezzine, the event claims to be a « spiritual gathering based on mystic arts, sufism, sacred musics and all expressions of spirituality », offering festival-goers a smattering of yoga sessions, crystal healing and nightly musical concerts with the likes of Yuma and Labess. But amidst festival slogans of « peace, love, tolerance and fraternity », several artists from the previous edition are calling, quite simply, to be paid for their work.

Society Translation : Vanessa Szakal 03 September 2018

Tunis’ homeless, another face of social crisis

Deterioration of the economic situation, soaring rent prices and feeble government intervention—all factors that contribute to an increase in the number of homeless individuals in the streets of Tunis, estimated at 3,000 in 2014. Ever more present on the streets, around transit stations, outside building entrances, in public gardens and elsewhere, they are a symptom of rampant social misery and marginalizing conservatism.

Civil Society Vanessa Szakal 29 August 2018

National Registry of Institutions, stepping on the toes of Tunisia’s civil society organizations

In June 2017, Tunisia’s Ministry of Civil Society and Human Rights pledged to reform the legal framework regulating associations, an attempt to « harmonize » the sector with the fight against terrorism and money laundering. The government’s proposal to amend Decree 88 of 2011, widely regarded as an important gain of the revolution for freedom of association, was perceived as a significant threat to this constitutional right. But while Tunisian and international civil society organizations had their gaze fixed on protecting Decree 88, the threat materialized in a far less obvious form: draft law 30/2018 on the National Registry of Enterprises, precipitously passed into law by parliament on July 27, 2018.

Economy Vanessa Szakal 15 August 2018

Tunisia’s skies soon to be opened up to drone technology?

On the heels of Korea’s joint agreement with the African Development Bank including a $5 billion assistance commitment to Africa, Tunisia’s Ministry of Development has landed a piece of the deal. The Korea Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAPEC) fund has carved out a million-dollar grant towards a project that will deliver Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), more commonly known as drones, for data collection in Tunisia’s agricultural sector. Until now, drone use in Tunisia has been largely restricted under ministerial law of 6 April 1995. Will South Korea’s experiment influence lawmakers to devise new regulations and open Tunisia’s skies to a wider application of this technology?

Rights Translation : Vanessa Szakal 07 August 2018

Zarzis: After 18 days at sea, 40 irregular migrants arrive in Tunisia

After ongoing negotiations that began on July 15, 40 irregular migrants in territorial waters were brought to the commercial port of Zarzis after being intercepted on their way from Libya to Europe. On Wednesday, August 1, the migrants accepted landing in Tunisia as their legal status is settled to determine whether they will be deported or granted asylum. Their arrival on Tunisian soil marked the end of 18 perilous days at sea after the migrants were refused entry into European ports.

Culture Traduction : Vanessa Szakal 05 Aug 2018

Dendri, quand le Stambeli s’affranchit de l’espace et du temps

Le dendri est une boisson servie aux mausolées en Tunisie. Elle se compose de sorgho, lait fermenté, eau et sucre. Un breuvage atypique tout comme le projet musical qui porte son nom. Présenté en concert mercredi 27 juin à la salle de la Bourse du Travail dans le cadre de la 5ème édition du festival « Jaou Tunis », Dendri propose une fusion entre instruments traditionnels afro-berbères comme le guembri et la gombra et instruments occidentaux tels que la batterie et la guitare. Une manière de défier l’espace et le temps en sortant ce genre de musique soufi de son cadre classique et en lui donnant un coup de jeune permettant aux nouvelles générations de se l’approprier.

Politics Translation : Vanessa Szakal 17 July 2018

Tunisia-United Kingdom: Austerity, a courtesy of Her Majesty

On July 2, The Guardian announced that the British government had concluded a contract with advertising agency M&C Saatchi for a communications campaign to benefit the Tunisian government. The revelation, fueled by the declarations of Britain’s ambassador to Tunisia and statements made by the spokesman for Tunisia’s Presidency, shed light on the growing implication of foreign countries in Tunisia under the convenient pretext of « strengthening capacities ». A problem all the more critical because it is the Tunisian government requesting foreign assistance.

Rights Translation : Vanessa Szakal 06 July 2018

EU-Tunisia: Migration policies, their visas and our dead

The tragedies continue one after another off Tunisia’s coasts. The last to date, along the shores of the islands of Kerkennah, cost the lives of 84 individuals according to a statement made by the Interior Ministry as the search for 28 missing migrants continues. 20 years after the closure of European borders following the Schengen Agreement, where does Tunisia’s migratory policy stand?

Rights Vanessa Szakal 07 June 2018

To fast or not to fast? Tunisia’s struggle against police conservatism during Ramadan

In Tunis, many practice the fast during Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink from sunup to sundown, just as many do not. At any time of day, you can find the latter crowded into the smoky refuge of one of the cafés and restaurants that continue to serve throughout the day, recognizable by their shutters partially pulled down over doorways or faded newspapers pasted across window fronts, discreet signals to non-fasting passers-by that inside, it’s business as usual. But this activity remains susceptible to police harassment justified by Interior Minister Lotfi Brahem, dismissed on June 5 after being vehemently criticized by NGOs.

بيئة فانيسا سزاكال 21 ماي 2018

حديقة البلفيدير: رئة العاصمة في خطر

العديد يعرفون البلفيدير من خلال حديقة الحيوانات، لكن هذه الحديقة العمومية التي تمسح أكثر من 100 هكتار هي من أكبر المناطق الخضراء بالعاصمة وغطاءها النباتي يجعلها بمثابة رئة العاصمة التي تعرف كثافة سكانية متصاعدة وتختنق بحزام المناطق الصناعية المحيط بها. لكن الارتجال على مستوى التهيئة العمرانية يهدد مساحة البلفيدير بالتقلص لتفسح المجال لباعثين عقاريين خواص أو لطرقات تحد من الاختناق المروري وتُضَاعف من التلوث. في لقاء مع نواة، نبهت آمنة الشرفي، الكاتبة العامة لجمعية أصدقاء البلفيدير، من هذه المخاطر مشددة على الأهمية الوطنية لهذه الحديقة وضرورة المحافظة عليها.

Politics Translation : Vanessa Szakal 16 May 2018

Tunisia: Abstention Party, big winner of the municipal elections

The winner of municipal elections was already known to all: abstention. From one electoral deadline to the next, abstention has been gaining ground. Voting awareness campaigns had but little effect on disenchanted and mistrustful citizens, even when we question them in places where the municipality has undertaken renovations. Report in Tunis, precisely the Tunis 1 municipal district where the rate of abstention reached 74%.

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