The Algerian authorities have prevented a delegation of 96 trade unionists and civil society activists from crossing the border into […]
Open letter concerning the setting up of the Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HAICA)
An open letter, issued Monday 25 March, to Tunisian President Marzouki, Speaker Ben Jaafar and Premier Larayed, in which the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT), the National Authority to Reform Information and Communication (INRIC) and the General Syndicate of Culture and Information…
The Ignored Challenges of the Arab Spring Backbone
The last two years witnessed major changes in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), Falling down political regimes and starting liberation process in societies which have been living in decades of dictatorships. Those dictatorships were not only on the macro level, the state, but also on the micro level which is the family and even on the personal level.
Weekly Political Review: New Tunisian government approved, Young man dies after self-immolation
“White smoke” appeared at the Bardo Palace with Tunisia’s new government winning a vote of confidence in the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) this past Wednesday. The creation of a new government came after the assassination of the Leftist opposition leader Chokri Belaid and the resignation of former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. The late PM promised to place “country first” by forming a government of technocrats, only to fail and cede his position to his Interior Minister.
Tunisia and the IMF: A Beggar State and an Impoverished People
It is important to note that since 2012 until the present day, the country has accumulated about ten million dollars in debt. In this vicious cycle where a debt is used to pay another debt, it is important to ask the following questions: Where will this debt take us? Where does the money go? Are the government’s cessions sufficient?
New Momentum For Shark Conservation Balances out Established Commercial Interests
This special Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) update is brought to you by the newly launched Tunisian Environment Reporting Network, who are currently attending the 40th meeting of the Parties as part of the Internews Europe and Earth Journalism Network grant, supported by World Environment Magazine.
Amnesty International: Tunisia: Blogger jailed for “insulting Islam” must be released
Tunisia should mark its national day of internet freedom on 13 March by releasing immediately and unconditionally 28-year-old blogger Jabeur […]
Weekly Political Review: Where Are the Women in Tunisia’s New Cabinet?
In a country riddled with political problems, the occasion of International Women’s Day turned to yet another opportunity to protest against the government. Chants of ‘the people want the fall of the regime’ dominated a rally that was initially organized to support women’s rights in Tunisia.
Ennahdha Masterstroke or how to survive unscathed the first political assassination in post-revolutionary Tunisia
On February 6, 2013, Chokri Belaid, the outspoken political opponent of Ennahdha was cowardly gunned down in front of his house. Three weeks later, it is however useful to re-visit the aftermath and one would almost gasp with admiration how the leading party Ennahdha managed to turn the situation around.
Moody’s downgrades Tunisia’s government debt rating to Ba1; on review for further downgrade
London, 28 February 2013 — Moody’s Investors Service has today downgraded Tunisia’s government debt rating to Ba1 from Baa3, and […]
Weekly Political Review: From Interior Vizier to Leader of the Pack
Less than a week after the resignation of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, Ennahda chose Ali Laarayedh to form a new mixed government of technocrats and politicians as the country deals with a major political crisis—the most crucial since the fall of the previous regime. A secret meeting of the Ennahda “Shura (Consultative) Council” convened on Thursday night to internally elect a new prime minister replacing Mr. Jebali who stepped down early last week after he failed to form an apolitical cabinet.
The Zanga (Impasse) has reached the Dead End for the Ennahda Runaway *
Tunisian journalist Malek Triki offers insight in this week’s OpEd into Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali’s “Last Passion” which eventually culminated in his resignation. He dissects the foundational flaws which could lead to the failure of Tunisia’s revolution.
Standard & Poor’s cuts Tunisia rating: limited methodology or bad intentions?
To assess the relevance of S&P grading, it is critical to understand the limitations of their methodology. In fact, S&P sovereign rating approach consists of analyzing in a forward-looking manner a range of qualitative and quantitative factors to assess the political, economic, external, fiscal and monetary aspects of sovereign creditworthiness.
Journal des débats à la Constituante : La décentralisation au cœur du chapitre des collectivités locales
La semaine précédente s’était terminée sur une note tendue à l’ANC avec le départ des élus de l’opposition jeudi 7 février. La semaine du 11 au 16 démarre dans une atmosphère tout aussi délétère. L’opposition a boycotté les séances en réclamant la tenue d’une plénière extraordinaire sur la situation politique. Pendant ce temps, les élus de la majorité ont entamé les débats sur le chapitre des collectivités publiques.
Weekly Political Review: Assassination of Chokri Belaid as a Dark Day in the Modern History of Tunisia
Picture this as a cryptic phenomenon in the modern history of Tunisia, a script that is currently being written by revolting masses. It is not one about the true start of this modern history in 1837 with Ahmed Bey’s access to power and the initiatives he undertook abolishing slavery, 18 years before the US, modernizing education by establishing the Saint Louis school in 1845, with its all-inclusive philosophy, giving equal access to modern means to Tunisia’s Muslims and Jews equally
Listen Tunisians: Take your martyrs, leave this country, and let us rule and bask in our eternal “mandate”!
For “awaiting a conclusive investigation into the murder” does not mean the cancellation of an obvious truth: The murder of Leftist activist Chokri Belaid cannot come from the opposition parties to the current rulers, or opponents of the ideology called ‘Political Islam’, or even enemies of the dogma of puritan ignorant Kharajites.
Tunisia: Weekly Political Review. Cabinet Reshuffle Fails to Materialise
The week promised to shake up considerably the political landscape in Tunisia. Contrary to the expectations of most observers, the long awaited cabinet reshuffle announcement was delayed due to the lack of consensus among the leading troika as announced Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali on Saturday. The new-born troika of the opposition (Nidaa Tounes, Republican Party al Massar) went almost unnoticed since the Popular Front (a unified political alliance of left-wing parties) seems to be still reluctant to join the new political and electoral front.
Tunisia and the make-up of a crisis: burkas, children’s rights, and accented spoken Arabic
Today, we are confronting what we could credibly call a ‘crisis.’ An identity crisis, a socioeconomic crisis, and most of all, a daily, practical crisis.
