Tunisian General Labour Union denounces freezing of Tunisian Human Rights League activities
via Business News2 min read
The Tunisian General Labour Union UGTT expressed deep concern on Monday, April 27, 2026, following a court decision to freeze the activities of the Tunisian Human Rights League LTDH for one month. The UGTT described this measure as an attack on the freedom of associative action and a dangerous precedent that could weaken a major achievement for Tunisians in defending rights and freedoms. The union highlighted the LTDH's historical role in protecting fundamental rights, assisting victims of violations, and promoting human rights culture. The UGTT believes this decision represents a step backward from national commitments to respect freedom of organization and expression, warning that targeting civil society components, particularly human rights organizations, risks increasing tensions and undermining the foundations of the rule of law. The UGTT called for the decision to freeze LTDH's activities to be reversed, allowing the organization to resume its work normally, and expressed full solidarity with the LTDH. The union also emphasized the need to ensure a secure environment for civil society actors, deeming it essential for the proper functioning of democratic life. This stance comes after the LTDH itself denounced the decision on Sunday, April 26, 2026, as "unjust and arbitrary," taken based on an order issued by the president of the Tunis Court of First Instance. The LTDH's national council, meeting urgently, considered this measure an infringement on freedom of association
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Butter prices in Tunisia have reached unprecedented levels, with a 200-gram packet selling for up to 8.200 dinars, equivalent to 41 dinars per kilogram. This makes butter more expensive than various types of meat, such as beef at 39.500 dinars per kilogram, seasoned minced steak at 38 dinars per kilogram, chicken breast at 15.900 dinars per kilogram, and turkey breast at 22.350 dinars per kilogram, according to prices observed on April 28, 2026. This price inversion, where a processed dairy product costs more than raw meat requiring extensive production processes, indicates a significant market imbalance. While prices vary across retailers, the overall trend is concerning. The article questions the role of the state in regulating prices and protecting consumers, especially given official rhetoric about social equity and market protection. It suggests that this situation points to a deep dysfunction in market mechanisms, either due to uncontrolled production and distribution costs or excessive profit margins, ultimately burdening consumers without clear justification. The author emphasizes that this is not merely an economic anecdote but a critical warning sign of underlying issues within the economy.
The Tunisian Observatory of the Economy OTE has issued a warning regarding five draft laws concerning concessions for renewable energy production, currently under review by the Assembly of People's Representatives. The OTE's orientation note, "Renewable energy concession bills: announced transition, threatened sovereignty," argues that these projects, while aiming for energy independence and cost reduction, prioritize the interests of financiers over national interests. The OTE highlights several risks, including a direct financial impact on the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg, potentially leading to increased debt. The Observatory also points to contractual imbalances favoring foreign investors without significant provisions for technology transfer, local industrial integration, or sustainable job creation. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the transfer of exchange rate risk to Steg, foreign currency outflows over more than twenty years, and potential environmental impacts. The OTE urges deputies to reject these concession contracts and advocates for new hearings to rethink the energy transition strategy, including a revision of the 2015 law governing the sector. The goal is to leverage the energy transition to strengthen national technological capabilities by involving researchers and local economic actors.
The 2025-2026 olive oil campaign is concluding with positive export figures for Tunisia, yet concerns are mounting for the upcoming season due to water stress and dwindling resources. Abdallah Sahraoui, president of the Sahline Olive Growers' Union, stated on April 28, 2026, that local olive oil prices range from 12 to 13 dinars per liter, while international prices are around 4.73 euros per kilogram. Tunisia exported nearly 184.3 thousand tons of olive oil by the end of March, generating over 2.263 billion dinars. Sahraoui noted strong global demand, estimated at 500 thousand tons. Export prices for Tunisian olive oil range from 9 to 11.5 dinars per kilogram, reaching 12.5 dinars for extra virgin. Despite these strong performances, Sahraoui warned of a challenging season ahead, attributing it to the alternating nature of rain-fed crop production and, critically, water shortages. He highlighted the reliance of irrigated crops on strained water resources, exacerbated by several years of drought. The water deficit significantly impacts the entire agricultural sector, with Monastir Governorate, responsible for about 41% of national early greenhouse produce, experiencing reduced production capacity due to the drastic drop in the Nebhana dam's water level. This supply contraction contributes to price increases for certain products, such as tomatoes. Sahraoui also addressed the livestock market ahead of Eid, pointing to significant price hikes for sheep due to intermediaries. A 30
Tunisia's national digital platform, Najda.tn, designed for heart attack patient care, has shown encouraging results after one year of operation. Cardiologist Salem Abdessalem, a key figure in the project, reported that the platform, developed over three years under the Ministry of Health with cardiology and emergency medicine associations, aims to streamline and digitize care for myocardial infarction patients, significantly reducing intervention times. Before Najda.tn, only 30% of patients received angioplasty, the standard treatment, while 30% received less effective medication, and nearly 40% received no adequate care, despite an increase in catheterization labs from 30 to 50 units in a decade. Dr. Abdessalem emphasized that the issue was not equipment but organization and time. Najda.tn ensures an electrocardiogram within ten minutes for patients admitted with chest pain. Medical data is immediately integrated, alerting SAMU teams and specialized centers for direct transfer to a catheterization lab. Over 3,000 patients have been managed through the platform, with angioplasty access rising to nearly 90% from 20-30%. Medication-only treatment dropped to 8%, and patients without care became marginal at 3-4%. While intervention times average four hours, with a two-hour target, progress is considered substantial. The platform, developed by Tunisian experts, will be enhanced through international partnerships, with future plans including AI integration for diagnosis and ECG in