🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives approves key loan for phosphate rail network modernization
via Business News2 min read
Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives adopted a bill on April 21, 2026, approving a loan agreement signed on October 16, 2025, with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. This loan will finance a major project to renew and modernize railway lines dedicated to phosphate transport. The bill passed with 71 votes in favor, two abstentions, and five against. The project aims to enhance phosphate and derivative transport capabilities, increase flow volumes, and improve the sector's overall performance, which is a cornerstone of the national economy. The program targets several sections of the railway network in southern Tunisia, across the governorates of Gabès, Gafsa, and Sfax. It includes rehabilitating and modernizing approximately 190.5 kilometers of priority railway tracks and constructing a pre-stressed concrete sleeper production unit. Key lines involved are Line 5 Gabès, Line 14 Gafsa, Line 17 Sfax, and Line 21, which connects Gabès and Gafsa over nearly 129 kilometers and is central to the project. Beyond infrastructure work, the project also covers technical services, including study updates, tender preparation, assistance in selecting companies, and execution monitoring. The total project cost is estimated at approximately 165.5 million dollars, or nearly 500 million dinars. The loan from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development amounts to 16 million Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to about 153 million Tunisian dinars, and will fully fund the rem
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The resignation of Hassen Jarboui from the presidency of the Committee on Agriculture, Food Security, and Water may not be an isolated incident. Following this announcement, committee members are now openly discussing suspending their activities, or even a collective resignation. On Friday, June 5, 2026, Deputy Taher Ben Mansour, a committee member, severely criticized the situation on Diwan FM. While not speaking officially for the committee, he stated he shared the sentiment that led Hassen Jarboui to resign. He summarized that "things were not going well," specifically pointing to increasingly complicated relations between the committee and the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the deputy, the Ministry of Agriculture has not held any meetings with the committee since the examination of the finance law. The few meetings that occurred were led by general directors rather than the minister himself. Taher Ben Mansour noted this situation comes as the agricultural sector faces a series of crises, including rising vegetable prices, difficulties in the olive oil sector, problems in the date sector, tensions over sheep supply for Eid, fishing difficulties, and water scarcity. He recalled that the committee conducted numerous field visits, from Béja to southern Tunisia, as well as hearings and meetings on various agricultural sectors. These efforts, he said, led to no concrete progress due to a lack of interaction with the executive. Beyond the agricultural sector, the deputy d
Must ReadThe Ministry of Interior announced on Friday, June 5, 2026, the arrest of individuals seen in a widely circulated video depicting the assault of a Sub-Saharan woman. Security services identified and apprehended those involved following investigations, despite no formal complaint being filed. The ministry stated that initial findings suggest the video is not recent, with the events dating back five years and the footage being disseminated simultaneously from two different continents. Investigations are ongoing to uncover all circumstances surrounding the case and the reasons for the video's recent distribution, given the age of the incident. The viral video, which emerged on Thursday, showed several individuals sexually assaulting a Sub-Saharan woman in front of her husband, sparking outrage among internet users and human rights organizations. The Ministry of Interior is continuing its investigations to determine all aspects of the case and mentioned "attempts at distortion and instrumentalization" accompanying the video's release. The ministry reaffirmed the state's commitment to guaranteeing "the rights and dignity of every person on Tunisian territory" and enforcing the law against offenders. It also reiterated its dedication to a "humanitarian approach" in managing migration, emphasizing its desire to facilitate the voluntary return of irregular migrants to their home countries "under the best conditions."
Must ReadTunisian journalist Khaoula Boukrim announced on Friday, June 5, 2026, that she has been informed of her referral to justice under anti-terrorism legislation and the initiation of legal proceedings against her. In a social media post, she stated she received a notification indicating an investigation is being conducted against her based on the law relating to the fight against terrorism. At this stage, she claims to have no specific details regarding the accusations. Boukrim, founder of the online media outlet TuMedia, which specializes in covering Tunisian political news and is known for its stances in favor of public freedoms and prisoners of conscience, believes she is being targeted due to her journalistic work and investigations. In her message, the journalist denounces what she considers a new step in the repression targeting critical voices. She recalls being forced to leave Tunisia several months ago, leaving behind her mother and relatives. This announcement comes in a particular context. Over the past week, a security unit visited her mother's home, according to information reported by the journalist. She interprets this episode as an additional sign of the pressure exerted against her. Khaoula Boukrim affirms her refusal to be silenced despite the legal proceedings initiated against her. She asserts that she will continue her journalistic activities and public stances, believing that the accusations against her are part of a broader climate of restricting freedoms.
Must ReadNine students were imprisoned on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Siliana after being caught cheating during baccalaureate exams. The students, aged 18 to 19, were found with earpieces used to receive answers during an exam at a center in the Bou Arada delegation. The public prosecutor's office at the Siliana Court of First Instance ordered their detention based on penal provisions related to exam fraud. This incident has sparked debate regarding the proportionality of sanctions and the increasing use of detention for offenses previously handled through disciplinary measures. This is not an isolated case; on Wednesday, June 3, four detention orders were issued in Tunis in a case involving the sale of cheating devices for national exams, implicating a teacher, a student, and two other students. Authorities appear to be adopting a stricter approach to academic fraud, especially with the proliferation of miniaturized electronic devices. While the need to protect the credibility of the baccalaureate is widely accepted, the severity of the repression is questioned. Tunisian law already imposes severe disciplinary sanctions, including exam cancellation and multi-year bans from national exams, which can have lasting consequences for young people. The addition of criminal proceedings and pre-trial detention fundamentally changes the response, treating students as delinquents rather than merely sanctioning academic misconduct. The legal framework used dates back to 1941, under the French prot