馃嚬馃嚦TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisia increases social assistance to 280 dinars per month starting January 2026
via Business News1 min read
A joint decree from the Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of Finance, published on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in the Official Gazette of the Tunisian Republic, announces an increase in direct monetary transfers for beneficiaries of the "Amen Social" program. The basic allowance will rise from 240 dinars to 280 dinars per month for an individual or household, effective January 1, 2026. This measure revises a previous decree from May 19, 2020, concerning the calculation and amount of direct financial transfers for disadvantaged groups. The increase aims to support purchasing power and enhance social assistance for low-income households. The "Amen Social" program provides financial support and guidance to vulnerable populations through direct aid, improving living conditions and mitigating the effects of economic hardship.
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Tunisia's electricity and gas company, STEG, announced extended power cuts across nearly all regions of the country, lasting from noon until 10 PM on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. This follows an initial round of outages scheduled from 6 AM to noon. STEG justified these intermittent cuts as necessary to "preserve the security and sustainability of the electricity network," noting that power restoration could occur without prior notice. The company also stated that the provided lists of affected areas were not exhaustive and could include additional zones, a point reinforced by citizen reports of outages in unlisted neighborhoods and interruptions exceeding the announced durations, some lasting four to five hours. Occurring during a heatwave, these power cuts are causing significant disruption, affecting air conditioning, elevators, water pumps, and economic activity. Numerous areas are impacted, including Fouchana, La Soukra, El Mourouj, Hammamet, Zaghouan, Bizerte, Makthar, Kairouan, Sousse, Sfax, Gab猫s, Djerba, Kebili, Tataouine, Zarzis, Ben Guerdane, M茅denine, and Gafsa, among others.
In猫s Zeghidi marked 800 days since her father, journalist Mourad Zeghidi, was imprisoned, sharing a message on social media. She stated that her father has been behind bars for "words" and is sentenced to over four years in prison. She expressed that her family cannot accept or normalize his imprisonment for what he has said, despite the passage of time. In猫s Zeghidi described the absence of her father during significant family events, such as her and her sister's graduations. She also highlighted the harsh conditions at Mornaguia prison, particularly during a heatwave in Tunisia, questioning the danger posed by detainees to warrant such suffering for them and their families. While acknowledging the plight of other prisoners of conscience, her message also conveyed hope, referencing Spain's recent World Cup victory as an example of a country upholding principles and democracy. She recounted her father's words from a visit, where he expressed his determination to defend his freedom and honor, likening himself to figures known for their resolve and combativeness. In猫s Zeghidi refuted defamation campaigns against her father, asserting his love for his country, a sentiment he often reiterates: "Tunisia deserves some sacrifices." She noted his continued concern for Tunisia's issues, such as electricity cuts, even while imprisoned. Her message concluded by reiterating that 800 days of imprisonment will not be normalized.
The Attayar party has raised concerns over increasing potable water shortages and electricity load shedding in Tunisia, attributing these issues to the authorities' failure to anticipate strains on essential public services. In a statement released on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the party highlighted an "accelerated degradation" of Tunisia's economic and social situation, marked by continuous price increases for basic goods and services, which impacts citizens' purchasing power and exacerbates precarity. Attayar noted that the crisis extends beyond economic indicators, directly affecting fundamental services like water supply, leading to citizen protests. The party also addressed periodic electricity cuts, which authorities explained as necessary to reduce pressure on the national grid and prevent collapse due to exceptional summer demand. Attayar views these load shedding measures as indicative of Tunisia's limited capacity to manage peak electricity consumption and a lack of structural preparation in the national energy system. The party pointed out that these cuts have caused significant anger among citizens and concern among businesses, with many reporting substantial losses, particularly due to the spoilage of temperature-sensitive goods. Industrial and manufacturing sectors have also experienced production disruptions. Attayar accused the current government of being unable to ensure essential services and criticized temporary solutions that, in their view, worsen the crisis