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.
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Must ReadFollowing the visit of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization WHO, to the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, social media has been rife with speculation, with some users drawing parallels to the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. In Tunisia, comments suggested the visit was an "alarm signal" or an "implicit admission" that Ebola was out of control. However, fact-checking reveals that the Director-General's visit is a standard part of WHO's mission in health emergencies, aimed at assessing the response, mobilizing international support, and strengthening local capacity. Official data indicates a concerning situation but does not suggest a complete collapse of health systems. The WHO reported 906 suspected Ebola cases, with 223 suspected deaths under investigation. The Congolese government confirmed 282 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 42 deaths. The majority of confirmed cases were in Ituri province 264 infections, with North Kivu and South Kivu reporting 15 and 3 cases, respectively. The WHO acknowledges the complexity of fighting the epidemic, citing difficulties in rapid identification of infected individuals, contact tracing, and safe burials. These challenges are exacerbated by persistent insecurity in conflict-affected regions. Despite this, Dr. Ghebreyesus highlighted encouraging signs, such as certified recoveries, and emphasized the importance of strengthening testing, treatment, and community trust in health workers.
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The French Consulate General in Tunis announced the results of the elections for French expatriate councilors for the Tunisia-Libya constituency, following the vote held on May 31, 2026. Out of 18,661 registered voters, 1,915 participated, a turnout of just over 10%. After accounting for 19 blank and three invalid ballots, 1,893 votes were cast. The list "Servir les Français de Tunisie et de Libye," led by Madeleine Berger Ben Naceur, received the most votes with 494. It was followed by "Votre voix compte – Engagement, Expérience et Résultats pour les Français de Tunisie et de Libye," led by Laurent Caizergues, with 451 votes. "La France insoumise – LFI Tunisie Libye," led by Donia Ben Osman, secured 448 votes, while "Françaises du monde unie et solidarité," led by Martine Vautrin Djedidi, obtained 334 votes. "Unis ! Au service des Français de Tunisie et de Libye," led by Slim Ben Hadj Khélifa, garnered 92 votes, and "Agir et rassembler, unis pour les Français de Tunisie-Libye," led by Roselyne Cordin, received 74 votes. Five French expatriate councilors were elected: Donia Ben Osman La France insoumise – LFI Tunisie Libye, Laurent Caizergues Votre voix compte, Madeleine Berger Ben Naceur and Michel Zucchero Servir les Français de Tunisie et de Libye, and Martine Vautrin Djedidi Françaises du monde unie et solidarité. Faten Tellissi was also named consular delegate for the "Servir les Français de Tunisie et de Libye" list. The results were officially validated by the French C