No evidence of UNHCR expulsion, Al Jazeera journalists, or Qatari ambassador ordered to leave Libya
via Business News2 min read
A 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.
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.
Several civil society organizations in Tunisia are calling for a demonstration on Friday, July 25, 2026, in Tunis, marking both Republic Day and the fifth anniversary of President Ka茂s Sa茂ed's political shift on July 25, 2021. The gathering is scheduled for 6 PM at Place de la R茅publique Le Passage under the slogan "Enough of the mess!". Organizers issued a severe indictment of the head of state, stating he has governed without effective checks and balances for five years. They criticize the concentration of powers, the absence of a Constitutional Court, the lack of institutional independence, and the decline of public freedoms. The call also highlights unfulfilled presidential promises, including a medical city, penal reconciliation, anti-corruption efforts, regional disparity reduction, subcontracting elimination, and community company development. Organizers believe these commitments have given way to continuous economic and social deterioration. The appeal emphasizes daily difficulties faced by Tunisians, such as water, medicine, and essential goods shortages, persistent unemployment, mass emigration of skilled workers, investment collapse, and a worsening economic crisis. It also criticizes check reform, the gradual disappearance of political and media pluralism, and increased arrests of opponents, activists, and journalists. The authors contend that the government's "achievements" are limited to unannounced presidential visits and populist speeches, while "Tunisians exp
The village of Sidi Bou Sa茂d was officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea. This decision, adopted by consensus, brings the number of Tunisian sites on the list to ten, making Tunisia the African country with the most inscribed sites. The Committee adopted Tunisia's application without amendment, recognizing Sidi Bou Sa茂d's exceptional universal value as a living cultural landscape that combines memory, spirituality, artistic inspiration, and intercultural dialogue. The Tunisian application, titled "Sidi Bou Sa茂d: a center of cultural and spiritual inspiration in the Mediterranean," sought autonomous recognition for the village, separate from the archaeological site of Carthage, which has been on the list since 1979. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs stated that preparation of the dossier began in February 2024, under instructions from the President of the Republic, Ka茂s Sa茂ed, and was officially submitted in February 2025. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Heritage Institute, led the dossier's development, involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, other national institutions, and the African World Heritage Fund. This inscription acknowledges Sidi Bou Sa茂d's unique architectural model and its significance as a testament to Tunisia's history and identity. The Tunisian representative thanked memb
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