🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisian Magistrates Association denounces persistent injustice four years after revocation of 57 judges
via Business News5 min read
Four years after the decree-law of June 1, 2022, led to the revocation of 57 magistrates, the Tunisian Magistrates Association AMT issued a critical statement on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, asserting that the decision continues to undermine judicial independence in Tunisia. The AMT highlighted that the 2022 decree-law was applied without fundamental guarantees, such as the right to defense and access to disciplinary files. It also stated that the decision violated the principle of separation of powers and international standards for judicial independence. The AMT noted that magistrates from judicial, administrative, and financial jurisdictions unanimously rejected the measure, and the Administrative Tribunal ordered the suspension of the decree-law for 49 magistrates in August 2022, a decision the Ministry of Justice reportedly did not respect. The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights also issued conservatory measures in October 2024, instructing the Tunisian state to suspend the text's application, which remain unapplied. The AMT also cited condemnations from the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers and the International Union of Magistrates. The association further denounced what it calls "continued judicial harassment" against the revoked magistrates, with over 109 cases initiated against them after favorable Administrative Tribunal decisions, in cases it deems lacking factual basis and legally admissible evidence. The AMT believes these proce
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Tunisia's olive oil exports are experiencing significant growth, with a 63.9% increase in volume during the first six months of the 2025-2026 campaign compared to the previous season, reaching 295,400 tonnes. Revenue also saw a substantial rise, from 2,400 million dinars to 3,600 million dinars. Fiscal expert Mohamed Salah Ayari highlighted the strategic importance of this sector for the national economy, particularly its contribution to foreign currency earnings and agricultural development. The cultivation of olive trees is expanding beyond traditional regions like the Sahel and Sfax, now thriving in areas such as Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan, Kasserine, and parts of the Northwest, partly due to the olive tree's resilience to drought. Despite this positive trend, Ayari emphasized that the main challenge is enhancing the value of Tunisian olive oil through improved packaging. Currently, about 87% of exports are in bulk, with only 13% being packaged. A significant portion of this bulk oil is sent to Spain 32% and Italy 20% for packaging under foreign brands. Ayari advocates for accelerating incentives to increase the share of packaged oil to at least 20% of exports, which would boost the visibility of Tunisian brands internationally. He also called for diversifying export markets, noting that the European Union accounts for 56% of exports, North America 23.2%, and Asian markets only 12%. Ayari sees opportunities in China due to recent advantages for African products and believes tha
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