馃嚬馃嚦TunisiaNorth Africa
Dalila Msaddek's European Parliament address on Tunisian judicial situation sparks strong reactions in Tunis
via Business News3 min read
Lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek's address to the European Parliament's Human Rights Commission on Friday, April 17, 2026, has generated significant reactions in Tunisia, particularly within government-aligned circles, where it was criticized as an appeal for foreign interference. During her hearing, Msaddek presented an alarming picture of the judicial situation in Tunisia since July 25, 2021, stating that discussing fair trials could lead to criminal prosecution, citing procedures against herself for public stances. She described the judicial system as deeply compromised, highlighting "accused without crime," "crimes without evidence," and "heavy sentences without effective defense," asserting these are systemic issues, not isolated incidents. A significant portion of her intervention focused on the alleged "conspiracy" case against state security, which she presented as emblematic of these abuses. She mentioned serious accusations, including attempted presidential assassination and alleged ties to foreign diplomats, while claiming no material evidence exists in the case file. She also pointed to the use of anonymous testimonies and the lack of hearings for the accused since their detention in February 2023. Several political figures and civil society members have received heavy sentences in this context, including her brother, constitutionalist Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison and is currently on a hunger strike. Msaddek called on the European Un
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Amidst widespread power cuts and a heatwave, Tunisia's National Agency for Energy Management ANME highlighted the increasing number of air conditioners and their impact on electricity consumption. This statement, relayed by Agence TAP on Friday, July 17, comes as public criticism focuses on the management of the national electricity grid. The timing of the declaration is notable, as power outages have increased across the country, with temperatures exceeding 45掳C in some areas. Residents are experiencing repeated interruptions, affecting air conditioning, refrigeration, and sometimes even drinking water. Critics point to a lack of investment and anticipation for recurrent consumption peaks. Abdelkader Baccouche, director of energy efficiency in the building sector at ANME, presented data showing air conditioners are now the second-largest electricity consumer in households, up from third place in 2019. Approximately one million new air conditioners have been installed in five years, bringing the national total to nearly 2.7 million units, with over half of Tunisian households owning at least one. ANME estimates these appliances account for about 18% of residential electricity consumption and roughly 50% of peak summer demand. The peak electricity consumption reached 4.8 gigawatts in July 2024. Refrigerators remain the most energy-intensive appliances, accounting for an estimated 36% of consumption. While these figures illustrate the growing impact of air conditioning, they do
Journalist Hamza Belloumi announced on Friday, July 17, 2026, that he and journalist Insaf Boughdiri, former editor-in-chief of the political show Le Huiti猫me Jour, were sentenced to one year in prison and an 8,000 dinar fine. This ruling stems from a complaint filed in 2015 by former President Moncef Marzouki, following the broadcast of a video on their show that allegedly showed him calling for a "bloodbath" in Tunisia. It was later revealed that the video was a montage. Belloumi stated that he and Boughdiri believed the case had been closed and that they were unable to exercise their right to defense during both the initial and appeal proceedings. They have appealed the judgments, asserting their innocence and describing the incident as a professional error for which they had publicly apologized. A search warrant has also been issued for Belloumi and Boughdiri. In the same case, Noureddine Ben Ticha and Chahrazed Akacha also received one-year prison sentences and 8,000 dinar fines. Moncef Marzouki, in a Facebook statement, clarified that he filed the complaint in 2015, after his presidency, believing it was then legitimate to pursue legal action against those who disseminated a falsified video attributing a call for violence to him. He questioned the timing of the judicial decision, rendered more than ten years after the events, and why others who allegedly broadcast similar content were not prosecuted. Marzouki also criticized the state of justice in Tunisia, which he con
The Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia Conect expressed concern on Friday, July 17, 2026, regarding the impact of scheduled power cuts on economic activity. The organization believes these interruptions cause significant losses for businesses and advocates for improved information dissemination and a sustainable strategy to enhance energy security. Conect states that the cuts affect companies across all sectors and regions, leading to direct and indirect losses from production halts, activity slowdowns, and damage to industrial, electrical, and electronic equipment. This situation, according to Conect, negatively impacts business productivity, reduces competitiveness, and harms the investment climate. While acknowledging efforts by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg to inform the public, Conect notes that the information provided is often insufficiently precise regarding affected areas, schedules, and estimated durations. This lack of clarity prevents businesses from organizing activities and taking preventive measures. Conect calls for strengthening the prior information system with more precise and regularly updated data on affected sectors, schedules, and estimated durations, and recommends more effective communication channels. Conect believes that improved communication alone is not enough and advocates for a concerted approach involving dialogue and coordination among Steg, public authorities, and relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable solu