馃嚬馃嚦TunisiaNorth Africa
Ennahdha condemns "scandalous" sentences in secret apparatus case
via Business News2 min read
The Islamist movement Ennahdha reacted on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to the verdicts delivered by the criminal chamber specializing in terrorism cases of the Tunis Court of First Instance in the "secret apparatus" case. Among those convicted is Rached Ghannouchi, head of the movement, who received a life prison sentence, along with several other leaders. In a statement published the same day, the movement described these judgments as "shocking" and "unprecedented in the history of Tunisian justice," and presented its arguments to challenge their legitimacy. The movement noted that the complaint initiating these proceedings did not come from security or judicial services, but from representatives of an opposing political party. It also highlighted that the main accused, Mustapha Khedher, had already been tried and imprisoned for eight years for the same acts in 2013, when Ennahdha was in power, and that justice had then concluded there was no link between this case and the movement. The party further stated that Rached Ghannouchi was only added to the list of defendants in 2022, not as part of an autonomous judicial investigation, but at the direct request of the Ministry of Justice, which it presented as proof of the political nature of the case. Ennahdha denounced the court's refusal to hold public hearings in the presence of the media, despite repeated requests from the defense. The movement also contested the credibility of the testimonies used against them, attributing some t
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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