More from Tunisia
🇹🇳Business News·37 mins ago
Tunisian beaches face severe plastic pollution, annual cleanup expands
Nabil Mokhtar, head of the mechanical beach cleaning program, reported on June 2, 2026, on the alarming state of Tunisia's coastline and announced the expansion of the annual sanitation campaign. The operation now covers 152 beaches along approximately 180 kilometers of coastline, up from 139 beaches previously. Nearly 6,500 hectares are included in this campaign, which typically runs until the end of summer, sometimes extending to October. Mokhtar noted the mobilization of human and logistical resources despite the scarcity of specialized companies. During the previous campaign, about 13,000 cubic meters of waste were collected, 85% of which was plastic, equating to over 11,000 cubic meters of plastic materials. He compared this volume to about 4.4 Olympic swimming pools filled with plastic or more than 550 large dump trucks. This accumulation is primarily attributed to irresponsible individual behaviors, such as discarding bags, bottles, and packaging directly into nature or the sea. Mokhtar highlighted the long degradation times for plastics in the marine environment: plastic bags can take 100 to 500 years, and some plastic bottles up to 450 years. Even after degradation, these materials turn into micro-particles that contaminate water, soil, air, and the food chain. He also mentioned polystyrene, which can persist for thousands of years. These invisible microplastics end up in fish, food, and drinking water, posing an indirect but lasting health threat. Mokhtar emphasized
2 min read
🇹🇳Business News·1 hour ago
Conect advocates for flexible exchange code reform to boost investment in Tunisia
The Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia Conect is actively proposing reforms to the Exchange Code, aiming to modernize a regulatory framework it deems outdated. Sultan Jebeniani, a member of Conect's national executive board, stated on June 2, 2026, that the reform is a strategic opportunity to enhance Tunisia's attractiveness for foreign investment. Conect has submitted 41 proposals, including 38 amendments and three new measures. Key proposals include introducing a principle where administrative silence within a set timeframe implies tacit approval, which Conect believes will reduce administrative burdens. Another major suggestion is to establish a mechanism for regular evaluation of the Exchange Code to prevent obsolescence, with performance indicators to measure effectiveness and adjust provisions based on macroeconomic changes and foreign currency reserves. Conect also recommends creating a single digital portal for exchange operations to simplify investor procedures and establishing a specialized consultative commission on exchange matters, involving the Central Bank of Tunisia, to ensure better consultation with economic actors. Conect's experts project that an ambitious reform could boost GDP growth by 0.8 to 1.5 points. The organization emphasizes the need for timely publication of implementing circulars and texts, citing delays in the 2026 finance law as a concern. Conect also believes the reform must address global economic shifts, particularly the digi
Must Read🇹🇳Business News·2 hours ago
WHO Director-General's visit to DRC: Ebola outbreak not out of control despite social media speculation
Following the visit of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization WHO, to the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, social media has been rife with speculation, with some users drawing parallels to the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. In Tunisia, comments suggested the visit was an "alarm signal" or an "implicit admission" that Ebola was out of control. However, fact-checking reveals that the Director-General's visit is a standard part of WHO's mission in health emergencies, aimed at assessing the response, mobilizing international support, and strengthening local capacity. Official data indicates a concerning situation but does not suggest a complete collapse of health systems. The WHO reported 906 suspected Ebola cases, with 223 suspected deaths under investigation. The Congolese government confirmed 282 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 42 deaths. The majority of confirmed cases were in Ituri province 264 infections, with North Kivu and South Kivu reporting 15 and 3 cases, respectively. The WHO acknowledges the complexity of fighting the epidemic, citing difficulties in rapid identification of infected individuals, contact tracing, and safe burials. These challenges are exacerbated by persistent insecurity in conflict-affected regions. Despite this, Dr. Ghebreyesus highlighted encouraging signs, such as certified recoveries, and emphasized the importance of strengthening testing, treatment, and community trust in health workers.
Must Read🇹🇳Business News·3 hours ago
Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed calls for a new impetus for Africa and a re-establishment of the world order
Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed received Crispin Mbadu Phanzu, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of La Francophonie and the Congolese community abroad, on June 1, 2026. Phanzu was acting as a special envoy for Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and delivered a written message to the Tunisian head of state. The delegation included Juliana Amato Lumumba, daughter of the late African leader Patrice Lumumba, who had visited Tunisia in 1960. Saïed reflected on the shared history between Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the participation of Tunisian armed forces in UN peacekeeping operations in the Katanga region. He emphasized that the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity dreamed of true unity among independent African nations, but noted that this goal remains unfulfilled despite the continent's vast natural resources. Saïed stated that the world is undergoing significant changes, necessitating new thinking based on justice and freedom, transcending mere declarations of equality and rejecting hierarchies between nations and peoples. He urged African peoples to actively shape their future and write a new chapter in history, rather than being passive victims of global transformations.