An exceptional heatwave combined with repeated power cuts has caused significant losses in Tunisia's poultry sector. Extreme temperatures have led to the death of thousands of poultry, impacting a portion of the national production and highlighting the vulnerability of farms to extreme weather. Brahim Nefzaoui, president of the National Chamber of Poultry and White Meat Traders, stated on July 22, 2026, that nearly 13% of national poultry production, amounting to 2,100 tons, has been lost due to these conditions. The losses are primarily attributed to high temperatures and power outages that disabled ventilation and cooling systems in poultry houses. Many farms also experienced irreversible equipment failures, with refrigeration and ventilation unit motors burning out. Poultry are highly susceptible to heat stress as they lack sweat glands and rely on rapid breathing for thermoregulation. When ambient temperatures exceed 35掳C, this mechanism becomes insufficient, especially with high humidity or poor air circulation. Modern poultry farming depends on mechanical ventilation and evaporative cooling systems. Prolonged power interruptions halt these systems, causing rapid internal temperature increases, further exacerbated by the animals' own body heat, which can become lethal in minutes in densely populated farms. Heat stress leads to increased body temperature, dehydration, respiratory distress, and metabolic imbalances, potentially resulting in multi-organ failure and death. Y
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A group of young developers has launched a participatory application called "BlackoutTN" to allow citizens to report electrical incidents and track the real-time status of power in different areas of Tunisia. This initiative comes in response to increasing power cuts and criticism regarding the communication from the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg. Steg's CEO has rarely spoken, primarily to justify the cuts as necessary to maintain grid balance and prevent a general system collapse. Steg has mainly published provisional load shedding schedules, but these have been criticized for their imprecision and unreliability, with many regions experiencing outages far exceeding announced times. BlackoutTN enables citizens to report power cuts, voltage problems, or electricity restoration. It also allows users to view the network's real-time status based on community-reported information. The creators aim to provide a participatory tool for citizens to monitor the situation on the ground, complementing official information. The data displayed relies on user declarations, which contribute to the platform's reliability. The developers encourage citizens to use, report incidents, and widely share the application to enhance its effectiveness and collective participation. The application is accessible at https://blackouttn.web.app.
Tunisia's Minister of Finance, Mechket Slama Khaldi, and a representative from the Central Bank of Tunisia BCT appeared before the Finance and Budget Committee of the Assembly of People's Representatives ARP on Monday, July 20, 2026. They presented Bill No. 52-2026, which approves a second amendment to a loan agreement with the African Export-Import Bank Afreximbank. The government defended the $500 million financing, stating it was secured under renegotiated terms. The loan, deposited by the Presidency of the Republic on July 10, 2026, aims to cover part of the state budget's needs. The minister explained that negotiations, conducted from October 2025 to February 2026 by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank, resulted in significantly improved financial conditions. The new agreement provides for an additional $500 million, repayable over seven years with a two-year grace period, at a fixed rate of 5.86% and an administrative fee of 0.25%. This is a reduction from the initial variable rate, which was estimated between 7.45% and 9.45%. The funds will be disbursed in two tranches: $427 million and $73 million. Khaldi justified the loan by the state's financing needs, particularly after Tunisia repaid a 740 million euro external loan on July 14, 2026. She emphasized the urgency of the bill's examination to preserve financial stability until October 2026. The minister also addressed concerns about the procedure, stating that Article 32 of Law No. 35 of 2016 allows the Mini
Wajih Dhokkar, president of the Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors OTJM, has strongly condemned the health consequences of electricity cuts by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg during a heatwave. He stated that these power outages worsen the critical situation in health facilities and directly endanger lives. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Dhokkar reported an influx of patients to emergency services whose health deteriorated after power interruptions at home, particularly those dependent on oxygen concentrators. He noted that some patients' conditions worsened due to medical device failures, while others suffered from heatstroke at home without air conditioning. Dhokkar also mentioned SAMU interventions that led to the discovery of deceased individuals at their homes, though he did not provide specific figures. He believes extreme temperatures and power cuts are aggravating factors with potentially dramatic consequences for vulnerable individuals. The OTJM president criticized the lack of an officially announced emergency protocol to address this situation, accusing health authorities of failing to inform the public of risks, launch awareness campaigns, or implement a clear intervention plan for exposed groups. He also regretted the absence of official communication on potential deaths linked to the crisis. Dhokkar highlighted that observed initiatives came from field actors, with some hospital managers and event hall owners offering patients de