An open letter from former MP Majdi Ben Khiareddine Boudhina to Abir Moussi, the detained president of Tunisia's Free Destourian Party PDL, urges her to forgo a third term as party leader. Boudhina argues that a party criticizing a potential third presidential term for Ka茂s Sa茂ed should uphold internal rules limiting terms for its own leadership, drawing parallels to the long presidencies of Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The letter also advocates for revising the party's internal regulations to promote generational renewal and calls for the PDL to focus more on Tunisians' economic and social concerns, such as purchasing power and employment, rather than what he terms political or elitist debates. Boudhina states he is prepared to leave party bodies himself as part of this renewal, emphasizing he seeks no position. The letter has reportedly been met with mixed reactions within the PDL, with some members viewing it as ill-timed given Moussi's detention and the party's focus on her release. However, it has brought to light internal debates within the PDL regarding governance and succession ahead of its upcoming congress.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Tunisia's Minister of National Defense, Khaled Sehili, announced plans to integrate artificial intelligence into the modernization of the Tunisian army. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2025-2026 academic year at the Fondouk Jedid Military Academy, Sehili emphasized the importance of investing in scientific research and AI to develop Tunisian military systems that meet international standards. He highlighted that AI is a crucial factor in surveillance, data analysis, cybersecurity, and decision-making. The minister also called for stronger partnerships between military institutions, universities, and research centers, both Tunisian and foreign, to foster knowledge transfer and innovation. Additionally, Sehili mentioned the ongoing modernization and digitalization of the Military Academy, noting its recent ISO 21001 certification and its pursuit of EUR-ACE academic accreditation. This strategic focus aims to enhance the army's operational capabilities through technological innovation and high-level skill development.
The National Council of Physicians has strongly condemned the increasing attacks against medical professionals, emphasizing that these acts not only harm the physical and moral integrity of doctors but also disrupt the essential conditions for practicing medicine and maintaining public health services. In a statement released on Saturday, July 4, 2026, the Council asserted that protecting healthcare providers is crucial for patient safety, the proper functioning of healthcare facilities, and the continuity of health services. The Council called for the rigorous application of the law against perpetrators and demanded judicial investigations to identify those responsible and bring them to justice, warning that impunity would only encourage further incidents. The Council also announced it would provide legal support to victimized doctors. Furthermore, it urged public authorities to promptly implement a national plan to secure both public and private healthcare establishments. Proposed measures include improved access control, enhanced protection systems, clear reporting and intervention procedures, and a national strategy to prevent and combat violence in hospitals. This stance follows a series of protests by young doctors earlier on Saturday, who denounced deteriorating working conditions and called for urgent measures to ensure the safety of healthcare personnel.
The Ennahdha movement has condemned the three-year prison sentences handed down to its Secretary-General, Ajmi Lourimi, and activist Moss芒ab Gharbi, on Friday, July 3, 2026, by the criminal chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance. Ennahdha issued a statement on Saturday, July 4, 2026, describing the judgment as "unjust" and the case as "fabricated," demanding the immediate release of both individuals. The party stated that the charges against Lourimi, Gharbi, and Mohamed Ghannoudi, who were arrested in July 2024, are baseless. Ennahdha highlighted that Mohamed Ghannoudi was publicly participating in political activities, including a rally organized by the National Salvation Front in Tunis, and was not subject to any judicial proceedings or search warrants at the time of his arrest. The movement alleges that the accusations were constructed after their apprehension. Ennahdha is appealing to political parties, national organizations, and civil society to unite against what it perceives as the instrumentalization of justice for political ends, accusing authorities of using the judiciary to target political opponents. Ajmi Lourimi was prosecuted for failing to inform authorities of facts related to a terrorist offense, while Moss芒ab Gharbi faced accusations including preparatory acts to harbor, conceal, facilitate the escape of, and prevent the discovery or prosecution of a person linked to terrorist offenses. The arrests occurred in July 2024