The Tunisian Federation of Artisans and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises FTAPME has issued an urgent appeal to the President of the Republic, calling for intervention to safeguard struggling businesses and protect jobs. In a statement released on June 2, 2026, the organization depicted a challenging economic landscape in Tunisia, characterized by fiscal and social burdens, a surge in the parallel market, limited access to financing, and an increase in legal proceedings against companies. The FTAPME highlighted that Tunisian businesses continue to grapple with the cumulative effects of several years of crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and previous terrorist attacks that severely impacted the tourism sector. These events have weakened company treasuries, particularly for vulnerable small and medium-sized enterprises. While acknowledging state efforts to mitigate difficulties through tax and social penalty exemptions, the federation deems these measures insufficient given the extent of accumulated debt. It advocates for debt repayment schedules to be extended to at least ten years, rather than the current five, to allow businesses to recover. The FTAPME also criticized the "excessive" tax and social pressure on Tunisian companies, claiming Tunisia has one of the highest such pressures among African nations. Furthermore, the federation denounced the criminalization of financial difficulties, citing an increase in penal proceedings against business leaders by administrati
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The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists SNJT has raised concerns about increasing judicial pressure on journalists in Tunisia, following recent convictions. On Saturday, July 18, 2026, the SNJT reacted to the appeals court sentencing of journalists Hamza Belloumi and Insaf Boughdiri to one year in prison each, along with an 8,000 dinar fine. This decision comes amidst a rise in prosecutions targeting media professionals, prompting professional organizations to worry about press freedom. The SNJT expressed solidarity with Belloumi and Boughdiri, urging the Tunis Court of Appeal to reconsider its judgment. The syndicate also criticized the use of judgments rendered in absentia, arguing that they deny journalists their right to defense. The case against Belloumi and Boughdiri dates back to May 2015, involving a video clip attributed to former President Moncef Marzouki, broadcast on Al Hiwar Ettounsi. The clip, initially presented as inciting violence, was later found to be edited and taken out of context. Marzouki had filed a complaint with the High Independent Authority for Audiovisual Communication Haica, which led to the temporary suspension of the show, and also initiated legal proceedings. Belloumi and Boughdiri stated they believed the matter was closed and that they were unable to fully exercise their right to defense. They had issued a correction and public apologies at the time, considering it a professional error. The SNJT emphasized the need to handle press-rel
The Tunisian General Labor Union's department of public offices and enterprises has issued a warning regarding the state of the energy and water sectors. In a statement titled "Nations are not built with thirst and darkness," the union attributes current difficulties not to mere technical incidents or high temperatures, but to structural weaknesses accumulated over years. Recent power shedding by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg due to record consumption during a heatwave has caused numerous outages. Simultaneously, disruptions in drinking water distribution have exacerbated public frustration. The UGTT views this situation as a "national signal" revealing deep-seated issues in public infrastructure, citing years of underinvestment, aging equipment, delayed strategic projects, and weak governance. The union believes Tunisian citizens are paying the price for past decisions, as disruptions impact daily life, health, economic activity, and educational institutions. However, the UGTT asserts that responsibility should not fall on employees of Steg and the National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company Sonede, whom it considers crucial for maintaining public service despite difficult conditions and limited resources. Instead, the union points to strategic choices, public policies, and overall resource management. Emphasizing water and electricity as fundamental rights and pillars of national security, the UGTT calls on the government to move from crisis managem
Tunisian Olympic and world champion Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui secured first place in the 200-meter freestyle at the Florida Summer Championships in the United States. The 23-year-old swimmer completed the distance in 1 minute 50.76 seconds, indicating his return to form ahead of upcoming international competitions. This victory is part of his preparation for the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, scheduled from August 21 to September 3, where he is expected to be a key medal hopeful for the Tunisian delegation. Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui gained international recognition by winning the gold medal in the 400m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. His achievements also include two world titles in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle, and a silver medal in the 400m freestyle at the Fukuoka 2023 World Championships. He also earned a silver medal in the 1,500m freestyle at the Abu Dhabi 2021 Short Course World Championships.