🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Sidi Bou Saïd's UNESCO World Heritage bid to be voted on July 24-26, 2026
via Business News2 min read
Sidi Bou Saïd's application for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List will be reviewed during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Busan, South Korea, from July 20 to 29, 2026. The Tunisian dossier, titled "Sidi Bou Saïd: a center of cultural and spiritual inspiration in the Mediterranean," is among thirty new applications that will be submitted for a vote by the 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee between July 24 and 26, according to information published on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, by UNESCO. This initiative aims to achieve autonomous recognition for the village of Sidi Bou Saïd on the World Heritage List, distinct from the archaeological site of Carthage, which has been listed since 1979, despite the close historical ties between the two sites. The application dossier is based on UNESCO's criteria relating to traditional human settlements and living cultural heritage presenting outstanding universal value. It is currently undergoing evaluation by experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites Icomos, who are tasked with examining the site's state of conservation and the effectiveness of its management plan in addressing challenges related to tourist pressure, environmental factors, and risks of soil instability. The Busan session will also examine several other international applications, including the 1944 D-Day landing beaches and the Carcassonne fortifications network in France, sites related to t
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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 Kaïs Saïed. 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