
The Finance and Budget Committee of the Assembly of People's Representatives has approved two draft laws, n°38 and n°39 of 2026, concerning state guarantee agreements for the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company STEG. These laws, examined under an urgent procedure, relate to two loans totaling $430 million. This funding aims to support the energy sector's efficiency, performance, and governance in Tunisia. Draft law n°38 authorizes the ratification of a $400 million loan agreement signed on November 3, 2025, between Tunisia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development IBRD for STEG. Draft law n°39 approves a second guarantee agreement, concluded on the same date between Tunisia and the IBRD, acting as the implementing entity for the Clean Technology Fund, for a $30 million loan also for STEG. The parliamentary committee's approval is a preliminary step before the agreements are reviewed in a plenary session for final ratification. These financings come as STEG faces significant financial challenges, with its public debt reaching 7.356 billion dinars as of June 23, 2026.
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Must ReadThe European Union expressed deep concern on Saturday, June 27, 2026, following the 25-year prison sentence handed to Sihem Bensedrine. In a statement from its spokesperson, the EU described Sihem Bensedrine as an "emblematic human rights defender" and highlighted her role as the head of the Truth and Dignity Commission IVD, which was responsible for leading Tunisia's transitional justice process. Brussels emphasized that Sihem Bensedrine played a central role in coordinating the IVD's work, whose recommendations are considered by the European Union to be of "particular importance" within Tunisia's transitional justice framework. The EU reiterated its support for this process since its inception, viewing it as a cornerstone for consolidating the rule of law. The European Union also reaffirmed its "unwavering commitment" to Tunisia and its people, assuring continued support for strengthening democratic institutions and respecting human rights. In its statement, the EU urged Tunisian authorities to "restore an environment conducive to pluralism and the expression of independent voices," deeming these conditions essential for the country's development. This stance follows Sihem Bensedrine's 25-year prison sentence in a case related to her duties as head of the Truth and Dignity Commission, a decision that continues to draw reactions nationally and internationally.
BreakingBurkina Faso's military regime announced on June 26, 2026, its decision to sever diplomatic ties with France, citing "incessant activism" against its interests. The junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré since a September 2022 coup, has pursued a sovereignist policy, suppressing critical voices and expressing hostility towards Western nations, particularly former colonial power France. In a statement read on national television, the government accused France of harboring "neo-colonial ambitions" and actively supporting "subversive networks and terrorists" impacting Burkina Faso and the Sahel region, which has faced a decade of jihadist violence from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The government clarified that this decision exclusively targets the institutional framework of diplomatic relations between the two states and does not affect the historical, human, cultural, and social ties between the Burkinabe and French people.
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