Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed calls for a new impetus for Africa and a re-establishment of the world order
via Business News2 min read
Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed received Crispin Mbadu Phanzu, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of La Francophonie and the Congolese community abroad, on June 1, 2026. Phanzu was acting as a special envoy for Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and delivered a written message to the Tunisian head of state. The delegation included Juliana Amato Lumumba, daughter of the late African leader Patrice Lumumba, who had visited Tunisia in 1960. Saïed reflected on the shared history between Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the participation of Tunisian armed forces in UN peacekeeping operations in the Katanga region. He emphasized that the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity dreamed of true unity among independent African nations, but noted that this goal remains unfulfilled despite the continent's vast natural resources. Saïed stated that the world is undergoing significant changes, necessitating new thinking based on justice and freedom, transcending mere declarations of equality and rejecting hierarchies between nations and peoples. He urged African peoples to actively shape their future and write a new chapter in history, rather than being passive victims of global transformations.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Tunisian engineer Chouaib Nemri issued a poignant appeal on Thursday, July 16, 2026, highlighting the human consequences of recurrent electricity cuts in Tunisia. Nemri, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and relies on a ventilator, an electric wheelchair, and a patient lift, stated that electricity is essential for his survival and autonomy. He emphasized that power outages pose an existential danger for him and thousands of other Tunisians dependent on electrical medical equipment. Nemri also expressed solidarity with professionals like bakers, mechanics, traders, and remote workers whose livelihoods are severely impacted by these disruptions, leading to significant economic losses. He advocated for a robust electrical grid that ensures continuous access to electricity, respecting lives and preserving dignity. Nemri, an internationally recognized artificial intelligence engineer who collaborates with Google, aims to bring attention to the critical human impact of power outages, which can turn a simple failure into a life-threatening emergency for those using medical devices such as respirators, oxygen concentrators, or home dialysis equipment.
Following recent power outages in Tunisia, Member of Parliament Fatma Mseddi has strongly criticized the government, stating that the repeated interruptions in electricity supply demonstrate the state's inability to provide an essential public service. In a Facebook post on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Mseddi argued that these outages are not merely simple power cuts but a hardship for citizens and a sign of state institutions failing in their basic duties. She highlighted that load shedding impacts hospitals, businesses, and citizens' equipment. Mseddi accused the government of failing to manage strategic national issues and making poor choices in appointments. She called on President Kaïs Saïed to speak publicly, demanding a clear and transparent address from the President about the situation, concrete solutions, and a timeline for accountability and necessary reforms. Mseddi's appeal comes after President Saïed's last public appearance on July 9, leading to speculation about his health, which the presidency has not officially addressed. Tunisia is currently experiencing an exceptional heatwave with temperatures reaching 49°C, causing high demand on the electricity grid. The Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg explained that the cuts are due to load shedding to maintain grid balance and prevent a system collapse.
Three years after the signing of the migration memorandum between Tunisia and the European Union, Amnesty International has stated that this cooperation model prioritized strengthening migration control over protecting the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. In a statement published on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the organization affirmed that policies implemented since the agreement's signing have been marked by numerous human rights violations. Amnesty International documented cases of arbitrary detentions, collective expulsions, violence, and racist acts related to the migration policies applied in Tunisia. Despite accumulating evidence of these violations, the European Union continued to provide financial and technical support to Tunisian authorities to reinforce migration control mechanisms. The NGO believes that reducing migrant arrivals in Europe cannot be considered a success indicator if it comes at the cost of the lives and dignity of those affected. Amnesty International also emphasized that intercepting migrants at sea should not be equated with a rescue operation when those intercepted are returned to places where they risk exposure to violence, torture, or other severe human rights violations. The organization stated that survivor testimonies show that the consequences of these policies cannot be reduced to mere migration statistics, asserting that each intercepted or expelled person is a human being whose rights must be fully respected. Amnesty