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Houcine Rhili criticizes "recycled decisions" on water crisis
via Business News2 min read
Houcine Rhili, a water resources expert, has criticized the Tunisian government's recently announced measures to secure drinking water supply for the summer and accelerate the 2050 national water strategy. Speaking on Express FM on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Rhili stated that many of the decisions are late and merely rehashes of previously announced measures. He noted that while the goal of ensuring continuous water distribution is legitimate, its implementation is compromised by delays. Rhili suggested such a council meeting should have occurred in February or March, leaving little time for significant impact this summer. He also pointed out that some presented "new" provisions, like mandatory rainwater harvesting in new developments, already exist in earlier texts, citing a 2018 agreement between the Ministries of Equipment and Agriculture. Rhili emphasized that the core issue is not new announcements but effective implementation. He highlighted persistent administrative and institutional blockages in the water sector, questioning the accountability for delays, particularly regarding the reuse of treated wastewater. Rhili noted that despite this issue being on ministerial agendas for over two decades, more than 300 million cubic meters of treated water are annually discharged, a waste incompatible with Tunisia's increasing water stress. These criticisms follow the government's announcement of a 58 million dinar emergency program with 81 projects and an ambitious 74.5 billion
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Must ReadA Facebook post claiming Libyan authorities closed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR headquarters, expelled Al Jazeera journalists, and ordered the Qatari ambassador to leave within 24 hours has been widely shared. However, no official sources or documents confirm these claims. While tensions exist regarding migration in Libya, and protests targeted UNHCR offices, the UN has denied accusations of involvement in a migrant resettlement project. No official announcement confirms the permanent closure of UNHCR headquarters. Similarly, there is no confirmation from Libyan authorities or Al Jazeera regarding the expulsion of its journalists. Furthermore, no evidence supports the claim that the Qatari ambassador was ordered to leave Libya within 24 hours, with no statements from the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Qatari Embassy, or Qatari authorities mentioning such a measure. The claims lack identifiable sources and are not corroborated by official documents or recognized media outlets, making the publication misleading.
Must ReadThe Tunisian League of Human Rights LTDH announced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, that the competent chamber of the Court of First Instance of Tunis has postponed the examination of its appeal against the decision to suspend its activities until July 15. The organization stated that it contested the suspension order in accordance with legal procedures, asserting its commitment to judicial steps to defend its independence and ensure the continuity of its work within the law. The LTDH was notified of a one-month suspension of its activities on April 24, 2026, though the specific reasons for this measure were not made public at the time. Founded in 1977, the LTDH is one of the oldest human rights organizations in Tunisia, the Arab world, and Africa. It has played a significant role in documenting rights violations and assisting victims, and was part of the National Dialogue Quartet, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015. The suspension occurs amid a climate of increasing legal actions against civil society organizations in Tunisia, with similar measures taken against the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women ATFD and the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights FTDES in 2025. Several organizations have expressed concern over what they perceive as a tightening framework for associations, with reports of procedures targeting other structures active in human rights, public freedoms, and independent media.
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