WHO Director-General's visit to DRC: Ebola outbreak not out of control despite social media speculation
via Business News3 min read
Following 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.
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.
Former MP Majdi Karbai announced on June 2, 2026, via Facebook, that the Italian Parliament has approved a new mission for the Guardia di Finanza in Tunisia. This mission aims to enhance cooperation with the Tunisian National Maritime Guard. According to Italian parliamentary documents cited by Karbai, the initiative involves technical assistance, training, and logistical support for Tunisian units responsible for maritime surveillance and border management. The deployment could include up to 22 Italian Guardia di Finanza agents and material and technical resources in Tunis and Sfax. The total cost is estimated at 8.83 million euros, funded by the Italian state budget. Karbai stated that this mission extends existing migratory cooperation between the two countries, building on an exchange of verbal notes in December 2025 and a 2017 memorandum of understanding on migration. He highlighted that while Italian institutions have publicized details of this mission, no official detailed communication has been made in Tunisia. Karbai noted that Tunisian citizens are learning about this mission through documents published in Rome, raising questions about transparency in security cooperation agreements with European partners. He compared Italian and Tunisian procedures, pointing out that Italian external missions undergo parliamentary review and official publication, allowing public access to information on their funding and objectives. Karbai suggested this situation reignites debate
The Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia Conect is actively proposing reforms to the Exchange Code, aiming to modernize a regulatory framework it deems outdated. Sultan Jebeniani, a member of Conect's national executive board, stated on June 2, 2026, that the reform is a strategic opportunity to enhance Tunisia's attractiveness for foreign investment. Conect has submitted 41 proposals, including 38 amendments and three new measures. Key proposals include introducing a principle where administrative silence within a set timeframe implies tacit approval, which Conect believes will reduce administrative burdens. Another major suggestion is to establish a mechanism for regular evaluation of the Exchange Code to prevent obsolescence, with performance indicators to measure effectiveness and adjust provisions based on macroeconomic changes and foreign currency reserves. Conect also recommends creating a single digital portal for exchange operations to simplify investor procedures and establishing a specialized consultative commission on exchange matters, involving the Central Bank of Tunisia, to ensure better consultation with economic actors. Conect's experts project that an ambitious reform could boost GDP growth by 0.8 to 1.5 points. The organization emphasizes the need for timely publication of implementing circulars and texts, citing delays in the 2026 finance law as a concern. Conect also believes the reform must address global economic shifts, particularly the digi
Must ReadTunisian 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.
Omar Bouzouada has been appointed Chairman and CEO of the Gafsa Phosphate Company and the Tunisian Chemical Group, according to presidential decrees published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia Jort on June 1, 2026. These appointments signify a major change within two strategic pillars of the phosphate sector in Tunisia. Concurrently, decree n°2026-80 ended Abdelkader Amaydi's tenure as Director General of the Gafsa Phosphate Company, and decree n°2026-81 concluded Al Hadi Youssef's role as Director General of the Tunisian Chemical Group. These decisions, formalized by their publication in the JORT, are part of a reorganization at the helm of two public companies that are strategic for the national economy and the phosphate sector, which is a key industrial driver for the country.