🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Zouhair Maghzaoui and Hichem Mechichi clash over pre-July 25, 2021 democracy
via Business News2 min read
A recent exchange between Zouhair Maghzaoui, Secretary General of the Echaâb Movement, and former Head of Government Hichem Mechichi has reignited debate about the responsibility of political parties in the period before July 25, 2021. On Friday, April 17, 2026, Maghzaoui described the pre-July 25 democracy as "corrupt" and "empty of all social content," stating that support for the July 25 political shift aimed to establish a "true democracy" based on social programs and justice, though he admitted this transformation has not occurred. He downplayed current divisions, suggesting broad agreement on fighting corruption, establishing a social state, and combating monopolies. Hichem Mechichi responded by recalling a personal encounter where Maghzaoui allegedly requested the appointment of a relative to lead the Kebili governorate, stating, "It was indeed corrupt, this democracy that allowed people like you to access its institutions." This exchange highlights the Echaâb Movement's role in the period now criticized, as the party was part of the parliamentary democratic bloc, participated in the majority, and was included in the executive, notably in the government of Elyes Fakhfakh. The article suggests that the "corrupt democracy" denounced by Maghzaoui is one to which his party contributed, raising questions about accountability for past actions within a system now widely criticized in political discourse.
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.
Journalist Hamza Belloumi announced on Friday, July 17, 2026, that he and journalist Insaf Boughdiri, former editor-in-chief of the political show Le Huitième Jour, were sentenced to one year in prison and an 8,000 dinar fine. This ruling stems from a complaint filed in 2015 by former President Moncef Marzouki, following the broadcast of a video on their show that allegedly showed him calling for a "bloodbath" in Tunisia. It was later revealed that the video was a montage. Belloumi stated that he and Boughdiri believed the case had been closed and that they were unable to exercise their right to defense during both the initial and appeal proceedings. They have appealed the judgments, asserting their innocence and describing the incident as a professional error for which they had publicly apologized. A search warrant has also been issued for Belloumi and Boughdiri. In the same case, Noureddine Ben Ticha and Chahrazed Akacha also received one-year prison sentences and 8,000 dinar fines. Moncef Marzouki, in a Facebook statement, clarified that he filed the complaint in 2015, after his presidency, believing it was then legitimate to pursue legal action against those who disseminated a falsified video attributing a call for violence to him. He questioned the timing of the judicial decision, rendered more than ten years after the events, and why others who allegedly broadcast similar content were not prosecuted. Marzouki also criticized the state of justice in Tunisia, which he con
The Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia Conect expressed concern on Friday, July 17, 2026, regarding the impact of scheduled power cuts on economic activity. The organization believes these interruptions cause significant losses for businesses and advocates for improved information dissemination and a sustainable strategy to enhance energy security. Conect states that the cuts affect companies across all sectors and regions, leading to direct and indirect losses from production halts, activity slowdowns, and damage to industrial, electrical, and electronic equipment. This situation, according to Conect, negatively impacts business productivity, reduces competitiveness, and harms the investment climate. While acknowledging efforts by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg to inform the public, Conect notes that the information provided is often insufficiently precise regarding affected areas, schedules, and estimated durations. This lack of clarity prevents businesses from organizing activities and taking preventive measures. Conect calls for strengthening the prior information system with more precise and regularly updated data on affected sectors, schedules, and estimated durations, and recommends more effective communication channels. Conect believes that improved communication alone is not enough and advocates for a concerted approach involving dialogue and coordination among Steg, public authorities, and relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable solu
Frequent power outages across several regions of Tunisia, caused by high demand on the national grid during a heatwave, are severely affecting patients who rely on regular oxygen supply at home. Wajih Dhokkar, president of the Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors OTJM, highlighted on Facebook that this situation puts vulnerable patients at significant risk. He explained that since the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital capacity saturation led to some stable patients being discharged with medical follow-up and respiratory assistance, often involving low-flow oxygen concentrators. These electric devices are crucial for their care, but power cuts force patients to return to emergency departments when their equipment stops working. Dhokkar noted that some patients visit emergency rooms multiple times daily awaiting power restoration, causing significant psychological distress and sometimes leading them to refuse to leave the hospital. He urged consideration of the human impact of these outages beyond technical grid management. Dhokkar also criticized the lack of a clear institutional response from the Ministry of Health, despite local initiatives by hospital directors and citizens. He pointed out the absence of a dedicated crisis committee, an official care protocol, a specific emergency number for affected patients, and clear guidelines for health facilities. Emergency services have seen an increase in admissions due to these difficulties. The power cuts are a measure by the Tunisian