🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisian pilgrims depart for Hajj 2026, Saudi ambassador highlights strengthened coordination
via Business News1 min read
The first group of Tunisian pilgrims departed for the Holy Sites on Thursday, May 7, 2026, with Tunisian and Saudi authorities reaffirming their commitment to ensuring an organized, secure, and comfortable pilgrimage. Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia, Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr, stated that Saudi authorities annually mobilize human and technological resources to welcome pilgrims. He emphasized the continuous coordination between the Tunisian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah through regular meetings to improve services and streamline procedures. The Ambassador also praised Tunisia's efforts in preparing and supervising its official mission. The initial wave of pilgrims included 270 individuals from Bizerte. A total of 43 flights are scheduled from eight Tunisian airports this year. Pilgrims will be accommodated in three hotels in Mecca and five in Medina, along with three camps in Mina. Each pilgrim will receive a digital card for easier movement and identification. The Tunisian Hajj mission comprises 336 supervisors from various ministries and institutions, accompanying 10,982 pilgrims, including 9,982 from the national quota and 1,000 from the Tunisian diaspora.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Economist Aram Belhadj predicts that inflationary pressures in Tunisia will intensify in the coming months, potentially leading to a "hot summer" for prices and purchasing power. His analysis follows the National Institute of Statistics' INS report on consumer price index figures. Belhadj, an economics doctor and research professor at the University of Carthage, stated in a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, that the current price increases are not temporary but stem from an accumulation of structural factors. He identifies several simultaneous elements contributing to Tunisia's inflation: rising production costs, injection of liquidity without equivalent wealth creation, wage increases without productivity gains, high global import prices, and the depreciation of the dinar, particularly against the euro. Belhadj noted he had anticipated this trend in previous analyses, believing inflationary pressures will persist as long as these factors remain active. The INS figures, released on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, show inflation rising to 5.5% in April 2026, up from 5% in March and February 2026, and 4.8% in January 2026. This increase is primarily due to accelerating food prices, which rose from 6.8% in March to 8.2% in April. Fresh fruits saw a 19.2% increase year-on-year, poultry and lamb 16.1%, fresh vegetables 13.5%, beef 12%, and fresh fish 11.9%. Cereal derivatives increased by 6.1% and dried fruits by 5.5%. Conversely, edible oils decreased by 6.8%, eggs by 4.4%, and legu
Must ReadOn May 7, 2026, Giuseppe Perrone, the European Union Ambassador to Tunis, stated that cooperation between Tunisia and the EU is a "long-term partnership" based on a "common vision," extending beyond technical or financial aspects. He emphasized a shared interest in combating human trafficking and irregular migration networks. Perrone clarified that European support primarily focuses on assisting organizations protecting migrants and refugees, and promoting legal and regulated migration. He affirmed that "migration is a positive phenomenon" when it occurs within a legal framework, explicitly rejecting the idea of delegating irregular migration management to third countries on behalf of Europe. This statement is significant given the current Tunisian context, marked by increasing criminalization of migrant-support associations and a political discourse centered on a "demographic conspiracy" theory. Perrone also highlighted that the partnership between Tunisia and the EU, encompassing economic, cultural, and societal dimensions, transcends successive governments. These declarations were made during the launch of a new European digital platform mapping 87 ongoing EU-funded projects in Tunisia, with a total portfolio estimated at 1.35 billion euros. He also noted the substantial European economic presence in Tunisia, with approximately 3,500 companies providing nearly 481,000 jobs.
Must ReadA rumor originating in isolated villages in the Tshopo province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming a mysterious illness caused the "atrophy" or "disappearance" of male genitalia, escalated into a security and health crisis. Social media posts, WhatsApp voice notes, viral videos, and local testimonies fueled the panic. This occurred in a context of strong distrust towards health authorities, following Ebola epidemics and vaccination campaigns. In October, four health agents conducting vaccination research were attacked and killed by an angry mob who accused them of being responsible for the alleged illness. Local authorities struggled to contain the rumor, which was amplified on digital platforms. The Africa Infodemic Response Alliance AIRA, coordinated by the World Health Organization, reported at least 17 deaths linked to this rumor in various regions of Congo. Reuters' investigation revealed that some local churches and religious preachers contributed to spreading these narratives, sometimes during public sermons. Researchers specializing in disinformation explain that such rumors thrive in contexts of poverty, insecurity, and limited access to reliable scientific information. Social media accelerates their spread, turning emotional videos or unverified testimonies into widely shared content. Public health experts warn that this type of disinformation undermines medical and vaccination campaigns, potentially complicating efforts to prevent real diseases like chol
Activist Ghassen Boughdiri has been sentenced to seven months in prison and is currently detained at Mornaguia civil prison. He is among several activists linked to the Tunisian Coordination of the Soumoud Flotilla who have faced arrests and legal proceedings recently. In a letter published on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Boughdiri described his trial as unfair, claiming it violated his fundamental rights. Other Soumoud Flotilla figures, including Wael Naouar, Nabil Chennoufi, Mohamed Amine Bennour, Ghassen Henchiri, and Jawaher Channa, have also been arrested and placed under detention orders as part of a financial judicial investigation, though no official charges have been released. In March, the Soumoud Flotilla Coordination transformed into an independent civil and political body, condemning what it views as an attempt to criminalize pro-Palestinian activism. Boughdiri stated he was informed of his appearance before the correctional chamber of Tunis 1 late on a Monday night for a case he learned about at the last minute. He also reported a deterioration in his health, with severe kidney pain and a significant skin rash, and claimed he was transferred to court despite his condition and without access to a lawyer before the hearing, which he considers a violation of fair trial guarantees. The charges against him stem from a March 18, 2025, demonstration outside Maersk offices, where pro-Palestinian activists accused the company of indirectly supporting the Israeli war effort by