馃嚬馃嚦TunisiaNorth Africa
Joint chambers advocate for confidence and simplification in Tunisia's investment code revision
via Business News3 min read
Representatives from the Council of Joint Chambers initiated parliamentary discussions on revising Tunisia's Investment Code, identifying structural barriers to the country's attractiveness. During their hearing by the Strategic Planning, Sustainable Development, Transport, Infrastructure, and Urban Planning Commission on April 25, 2026, they advocated for an approach centered on trust, procedural speed, and legal certainty. The Council, comprising 18 mixed chambers of commerce and industry, represents nearly 5,000 businesses, employs approximately 400,000 people, and contributes an estimated 22 billion dinars to the national economy, particularly in strategic sectors like textiles and automotive components. They highlighted Tunisia's untapped potential due to administrative constraints and called for a shift from a restrictive administrative framework to a proactive, incentive-driven environment. Key proposals included tax incentives for new businesses through tax credits for innovation, and ensuring fiscal stability for major investments via contractual agreements guaranteeing a visible tax framework for at least ten years. They also emphasized improving governance by mandating timely publication of implementation texts and establishing regular parliamentary oversight. The creation of an independent observatory, involving public, private, and civil society sectors, was proposed to annually assess investment policy effectiveness. The representatives warned against bureaucrac
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
A collective of eleven human rights organizations has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating health of Rached Ghannouchi, former President of the Assembly of People's Representatives and president of the Ennahdha movement. In a statement released on Friday, July 24, 2026, the signatories stated that his health has significantly worsened in detention and called for his immediate release, along with all political and opinion prisoners in Tunisia. Ghannouchi, 85, is currently hospitalized after multiple transfers to a health facility in recent weeks amid high temperatures. The organizations report that the former political leader is suffering from an aggravation of several health issues, including discomfort due to heat stress, persistent blood pressure instability, worsening Parkinson's disease symptoms, severe pain in his left leg, sleep apnea episodes, and exhaustion exacerbated by high temperatures. He has reportedly been transferred to the hospital four times in the last month and is currently undergoing treatment. The signatories believe his condition now exceeds what can be managed in a penitentiary. The NGOs also criticize the broader context of prosecutions against political officials, magistrates, lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders in Tunisia, citing concerns about fair trial guarantees, prolonged pre-trial detention, and the use of broad penal provisions to prosecute political activities. They also claim that Ghannouchi's lawyers and family member
Tunisia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday, July 24, that it summoned the French Ambassador to Tunisia to convey a "strong protest" following an interview broadcast recently by a French public channel with "a person wanted by Tunisian justice." The ministry's statement indicated that the interview allegedly undermined "the sovereignty of the Tunisian state," targeted "its national security and institutions," and constituted "an explicit call for sedition and internal confrontations." The summoning of the French diplomatic representative was made under instructions from President Ka茂s Sa茂ed. The Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad expressed the "indignation" of the Tunisian authorities regarding what they consider to be a repetition of hostile content broadcast on French public media. While the ministry's statement did not specify the identity of the interviewed person or the media involved, this protest follows an interview given this week by former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki to the French channel France 24, in which he strongly criticized Tunisia's current political management. During this intervention, Moncef Marzouki notably denounced official discourses targeting sub-Saharan migrants, believing that the policy pursued by the Tunisian authorities constituted a detrimental break with the country's African environment. The former head of state also severely criticized Tunisia's political evolution sinc
The Tunisian National Bar Association issued a statement on Friday, July 24, 2026, expressing concern over the country's political, economic, and social situation. This statement comes amidst critical discussions about the national situation, including remarks from Slaheddine Selmi of the UGTT trade union, who criticized the country for not fulfilling its promises, citing economic and social challenges. The Bar Association, while reaffirming its commitment to republican values, freedom, justice, and the rule of law, believes the current situation's severity necessitates an alert regarding the decline in public services and the lack of adequate responses to accumulated crises. The institution highlighted rising prices, decreased purchasing power, increased unemployment and poverty, and repeated water and electricity cuts, which it views as undermining citizens' right to a dignified life. Regarding the judiciary, the Bar Association acknowledged the presidential pardon granted to 2,439 detainees but criticized the lack of transparency regarding the criteria used by the commission for special pardons and conditional releases. It also regretted the absence of defense representatives on this commission and called for prison system reform. The statement also addressed the prosecution of lawyers in the course of their professional duties, noting that some detentions raise questions about fair trial guarantees and defense rights. The institution expressed support for journalists, act