Tunisia's Beni M'tir dam reaches full capacity, prompting controlled water release
via Business News3 min read
Recent heavy rains have significantly altered the water landscape in northwestern Tunisia, with dams, including Beni M'tir, reaching full capacity. The Beni M'tir dam, which holds nearly 60 million cubic meters, has reached its maximum level. This situation led to the activation of sirens, which, while causing concern on social media, are part of a controlled hydraulic discharge procedure. Former Secretary of State for Agriculture Abdallah Rabhi explained on Express FM on Friday, April 17, 2026, that these sirens are a safety measure to warn residents of the controlled release of water, not a sign of imminent disaster. Excess water from Beni M'tir is being redirected to the Bouhertma dam via the interconnected hydraulic network of the Medjerda wadi. This system aims to balance water levels, optimize resources, and prevent uncontrolled overflows. BN Check confirmed that the discharge rate is approximately 50 cubic meters per second, with the goal of gradually lowering the dam's level to a more stable 57 million cubic meters, allowing for absorption of future rainfall. All dams in the Jendouba governorate are currently at 100% capacity. The Bouhertma dam serves as a crucial buffer, absorbing excess water and rebalancing the Medjerda basin. This interconnected hydraulic strategy is vital for preventing localized overflows and redistributing water to areas in need, especially with increasingly intense weather patterns. Continuous monitoring by hydraulic sector actors and civil pr
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
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
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The European Left Party has strongly condemned death threats targeting Hamma Hammami, Secretary General of the Tunisian Workers' Party, and other opposition figures. These threats followed the broadcast of a video containing violent remarks and calls for hatred. In a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the European organization expressed full solidarity with Hamma Hammami, his family, and the Workers' Party, emphasizing that political differences do not justify intimidation or threats against political actors expressing critical views. The European Left Party urged Tunisian authorities to immediately ensure the safety of those targeted, conduct a thorough investigation into the threats' origin, and prosecute those responsible, warning that impunity fuels political violence and erodes democratic freedoms. The organization also reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of expression, political pluralism, and the right of opposition forces to operate without persecution. This reaction comes amid growing concern over the proliferation of hate speech in Tunisia's public and digital spheres. The Tunisian League for Human Rights had previously raised an alarm on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, regarding the same video, denouncing an escalation of hate speech and incitement to violence on social media. The League called for an urgent and independent criminal investigation to identify those responsible and protect the targeted individuals, including Mohamed Abbou, Ezzedine Hazgui, Samir