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Morocco World
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Tunisia Hosts Polisario in Fresh Affront to Morocco's Sovereignty
Doha – In a blatant affront to Morocco's sovereignty, Tunisia has once again thrown open its doors to the Polisario Front separatists, permitting their delegation to infiltrate a conference on 'Building Social Cohesion in a Changing World' currently underway in Tunis. Ayoub Mohamed Sidi, who masquerades as the Central Director of Youth at the fictional 'Ministry of Youth and Sports' of the illegitimate 'Sahrawi Republic,' is brazenly participating in the event at the behest of the notoriously biased Catalan NGO NOVACT. This flagrant provocation exemplifies Tunisia's relentless campaign against Morocco's territorial integrity. The conference assembles organizations and self-proclaimed experts from the Mediterranean region to deliberate on various challenges, while shamelessly carving out dedicated space for what the separatist militia euphemistically calls 'Sahrawi resistance'—another thinly-veiled platform for the Algerian puppet group to disseminate its toxic narrative. President Kaïs Saïed's subservience to Algeria Tunisia's collusion with NOVACT to harbor Polisario operatives on its soil follows an established pattern of hostility. In September 2022, this same organization orchestrated a forum labeled 'Camp for Climate Justice' in Tunisia, where the separatist front lurked behind the façade of the Spanish NGO. That underhanded maneuver forced the Moroccan delegation to withdraw in righteous protest after the separatists surreptitiously organized an unscheduled workshop provocatively titled 'Climate Change Under Occupation, Green Washing.' Diplomatic relations between Rabat and Tunis have plummeted precipitously since August 2022, when Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed scandalously lavished Polisario chief Brahim Ghali with state honors during the Japan-Africa summit (TICAD). Ghali—ferried to Tunis aboard an Algerian presidential aircraft—was personally welcomed by an obsequious Saïed at Carthage Airport, where the two conspired in closed-door talks. 'After repeatedly taking negative positions and actions against the Kingdom of Morocco and its higher interests, Tunisia's attitude in the TICAD process flagrantly confirms its hostility,' Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared forcefully at the time, announcing the immediate recall of Morocco's ambassador to Tunis in a decisive diplomatic rebuke. The incident triggered a stern Japanese condemnation of Tunisia's reckless unilateral action. In an unambiguous statement during TICAD's first plenary session, the Japanese delegation emphatically reaffirmed that the separatist front's presence did not reflect its stance on the Sahara dispute. 'TICAD is a forum for discussion on development in Africa,' said the statement, stressing that 'the presence of any entity not recognized by Japan as a sovereign state does not affect Japan's position regarding the status of this entity.' Tunisia's subservience to Algeria on the Sahara issue has become increasingly evident. In August 2024, President Saïed imperiously directed his Foreign Minister, Mohamed Ali Nafti, to enshrine 'the defense of peoples' right to self-determination as a constant in Tunisian diplomacy,' effectively parroting Algeria's contrived position on the Sahara conflict. Read also: Algeria, Tunisia Skip Arab Summit: A Saga of Diplomatic Isolation and Hypocrisy This calculated pivot in Tunisia's stance began in October 2021, when the country revealingly abandoned its long-maintained neutrality by abstaining from voting on a UN Security Council resolution on the Sahara. The following December, Tunisia's foreign minister eagerly attended a forum in Oran engineered by Algeria specifically to manipulate African countries into supporting the Polisario's spurious claims at the Security Council. Many fear that Tunisia's gradual embrace of Algeria's Morocco-bashing agenda will at some point disrupt the historically cordial relations between Rabat and Tunis. 'The Sahara issue is the prism through which Morocco views its international environment. It is also clearly and simply the measure that gauges the sincerity of friendships and the effectiveness of partnerships it establishes,' King Mohammed unequivocally proclaimed in a speech on August 20, 2022. The Moroccan monarch once again brought this idea to the forefront in his speech on November 6, 2024. Marking the 49th anniversary of the Green March, King Mohammed VI delivered a powerful denunciation of Algeria's obstinate hostility regarding the Sahara issue. Without naming Algeria directly, the King condemned those 'still feeding on the illusions of the past' and 'clinging to outdated theories and claims' in support of an independence referendum that has been 'discarded by the United Nations' as impractical. While Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara has garnered overwhelming international support from more than 110 countries—including distant powers like the United States, France, and Spain—conspicuously absent is backing from its closest geographical neighbors. Algeria continues to bankroll and arm the separatist Polisario militia while cynically exploiting vulnerable Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps, who endure deplorable, humiliating conditions with restricted movement despite living on Algerian soil. Despite Morocco's vehement objections, Tunisia's persistent harboring of Polisario representatives conclusively demonstrates that reconciliation between Rabat and Tunis is off the table as the North African neighbor continues to willfully entangle itself deeper in Algeria's venomous anti-Moroccan agenda. Tags: Polisario FrontTunisia
Ya Biladi
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Maghreb : The Polisario attends a congress held in Tunisia
An official Polisario delegation is currently in Tunisia attending a conference titled «Building Social Cohesion in a Changing World». Organized by the Catalan NGO NOVACT, the event includes the participation of a senior official from the Front's so-called «Ministry of Youth and Sports», according to the SPS news agency on Tuesday, April 22. As with previous events organized by the same association—such as the Camp for Climate Justice forum held from September 26 to 30, 2022—the Tunisian authorities have once again allowed the Polisario's participation. This move further underscores the ongoing tensions between Rabat and Tunis, signaling that reconciliation remains elusive. Relations between the two countries have significantly deteriorated since August 2022, when Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed gave a warm welcome to the Polisario leader during the Japan-Africa summit. The president has since moved away from the neutral stance of his predecessors on the Western Sahara issue, aligning more closely with Algeria's position. On August 25, 2024, President Saïed instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to make «the defense of the right of peoples to self-determination» a guiding principle of Tunisian diplomacy.
African Manager
07-04-2025
- Business
- African Manager
'An outrage to the institution on Hedi Nouira Street'
In a long-anticipated decision, the Board of Directors of Tunisia's Central Bank (BCT) has lowered its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 7.5%. The stated goal: to revive a stagnant economy plagued by sluggish growth and weakened domestic demand. The less visible aim: to smooth tensions through a decision more political than economic or financial! Balancing the urgency of immediate growth with the need for long-term stability, the BCT is walking a tightrope. Every forward step risks a steep fall if structural reforms, heavily emphasized in February 2025, fail to materialize. In short, this bold gamble risks becoming a cure worse than the disease. BCT warned of 'strained liquidity' and 'vulnerable banks' First, some context. Between the pre-Eid week (featuring a meeting between Governor Nouri and President Saïed) and the last week of March (marked by a cabinet meeting on legislation governing the BCT), this decision was closely watched, even expected. Only the percentage cut remained in question. Now confirmed, the move raises concerns—especially given the BCT's February 2025 warning about over-reliance on domestic financing for the Treasury, citing strained liquidity and a fragile banking system. By easing monetary policy, this rate cut could worsen these vulnerabilities. Other critical risks loom, including threats to the BCT's core mandates: price stability and foreign exchange reserves. Despite reserves recently surpassing 100 days of imports (101 days as of March 25), they remain under pressure and could further erode if foreign currency demand rises. Meanwhile, looser monetary policy risks reigniting inflation. The specter of political interference? Political pressures also cast a shadow. With the Treasury desperate for funds, the BCT appears to yield to short-term budget support demands under the 2025 Finance Law. This compromises its operational independence and credibility. Recall the BCT's February 2025 statement, which urged structural reforms over monetary quick fixes. The message was clear—yet ignored. While the rate cut may offer short-term economic relief, it exposes Tunisia to deeper financial imbalances. Between stimulus and stability, the BCT's move reeks of political maneuvering, a 'perilous game.' Local media reported last Tuesday that a 'verbal agreement' was struck between the President and the BCT Governor to gradually loosen monetary policy. Though unconfirmed, the BCT's decision tacitly endorses this narrative. Timing is also suspect. The BCT's Board could have waited until after Eid, allowing time for reflection and the release of consumer price data by the National Statistics Institute. But with Ramadan and Eid spending looming, the decision's timing seems politically, not economically, driven. Monetary easing vs. inflation risks While lower rates may boost credit access for businesses and households, they risk exacerbating financial instability. A lenient policy could further strain banks already grappling with non-performing loans, especially if borrowers—emboldened by lower rates and potential amnesty for bounced checks—default. Moreover, monetary easing could stoke inflation as import prices remain sensitive to dinar fluctuations. The dinar, already pressured by dwindling reserves, relies heavily on BCT interventions. Add to this the danger of eroded investor confidence, which could deter foreign capital crucial for recovery. The BCT's Defense In its official statement, the BCT justified the decision: 'Recent inflation trends have lowered inflation projections. However, wage hikes in both public and private sectors may raise production costs and spur demand amid stagnant capacity—worsened by persistent drought and slow reforms. Annual inflation is expected to drop from 7% in 2024 to 5.3% in 2025. Risks remain, including global commodity prices, demand dynamics, and fiscal imbalances. After deliberation, the Board concluded that disinflation has progressed sufficiently. Reducing the key rate to 7.5% reflects our commitment to price stability while supporting growth. We remain vigilant amid rising uncertainties.' An expert's blunt take Professor Hachemi Alaya, in his March 30, 2025 'EcoWeek' column, argues that what has been decided is 'an outrage against the institution on Hedi Nouira Street', that 'Tunisian inflation is far from being disarmed', that there is confusion among Tunisian economic and monetary decision-makers because 'access to finance is not reduced to cost.' 'I have gone through all the studies and reports on the obstacles to investment in Tunisia, but nowhere have I found the high level of interest rate,' he pointed out. For Professor Alaya, the saving grace lies in 'the urgent need for Tunisia to understand that printing money does not create wealth (otherwise there would have been no poor people a long time ago), to limit, if not prohibit, the subscription of Treasury bills by the central bank and commercial banks, and to make the public sector (STB-BNA-BH) a pole dedicated almost exclusively to financing investment'. For their part, some experts have no hesitation in recommending that the BCT and the banks set up a system of removable interest rates by sector of activity to target those they wish to boost by facilitating access to credit. Such facilitation would then be selective, depending on the economic choices made by the State (for example, investment or consumption, and the criteria could even be refined), and would avoid a generalized impact on inflation!
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mass trial begins of Tunisian president's opponents
A mass trial of around 40 prominent opposition figures began in Tunisia on Tuesday, in a case that lawyers, relatives and rights groups say is politically politicians, lawyers, and journalists who are critical of President Kaïs Saïed are among the could face the death penalty if found guilty of charges which include "plotting against state security" and "belonging to a terrorist group".Human Rights Watch has labelled it a "mockery of a trial" based on "abusive charges", while the UN recently urged Tunisian authorities to end "all forms of persecution of political opponents". The country's foreign ministry said it read the UN's statement with "astonishment" and criticised what it said were "inaccuracies", and added that "Tunisia can give lessons to those who think they are in a position to make statements".Campaigners say the trial highlights Saïed's authoritarian control over the judiciary, after dissolving parliament in 2021 and ruling by he was first elected six years ago, the former law professor has rewritten the constitution to enhance his the trial began on Tuesday, defence lawyers complained that they were not granted access to the full case file."You can put an end to this madness and absurdity," lawyer Abdelaziz Essid told judges in those on trial are ex-presidential chief of staff Nadia Akacha, the former leader of the Ennahda opposition party Abdelhamid Jelassi and Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, who was a high-profile critic of the president's 2021 power of the defendants, including Akacha, were tried in absentia having already fled the north African the defendants are people who were arrested two years ago and detained ever since, with Saïed labelling them "terrorists"."It is one of the darkest injustices in Tunisia's history," said the head of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, Bassam Tunisian activists have been demonstrating outside the court in the capital, the banners they carried was the slogan: "No to remote trials, No to a judiciary that does not guarantee rights, freedom for political detainees".Additional reporting by Lipika Pelham More BBC stories on Tunisia: Tunisia's president - saviour or usurper of power?Pink flamingos 'seized from smugglers' in Tunisia'My black skin says I don't belong in Tunisia'The fisherman who found a dead baby in his net Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass trial begins of Tunisian president's opponents
A mass trial of around 40 prominent opposition figures began in Tunisia on Tuesday, in a case that lawyers, relatives and rights groups say is politically motivated. Diplomats, politicians, lawyers, and journalists who are critical of President Kaïs Saïed are among the defendants. They could face the death penalty if found guilty of charges which include "plotting against state security" and "belonging to a terrorist group". Human Rights Watch has labelled it a "mockery of a trial" based on "abusive charges", while the UN recently urged Tunisian authorities to end "all forms of persecution of political opponents". The country's foreign ministry said it read the UN's statement with "astonishment" and criticised what it said were "inaccuracies", and added that "Tunisia can give lessons to those who think they are in a position to make statements". Campaigners say the trial highlights Saïed's authoritarian control over the judiciary, after dissolving parliament in 2021 and ruling by decree. Since he was first elected six years ago, the former law professor has rewritten the constitution to enhance his powers. As the trial began on Tuesday, defence lawyers complained that they were not granted access to the full case file. "You can put an end to this madness and absurdity," lawyer Abdelaziz Essid told judges in court. Among those on trial are ex-presidential chief of staff Nadia Akacha, the former leader of the Ennahda opposition party Abdelhamid Jelassi and Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, who was a high-profile critic of the president's 2021 power grab. Some of the defendants, including Akacha, were tried in absentia having already fled the north African country. Among the defendants are people who were arrested two years ago and detained ever since, with Saïed labelling them "terrorists". "It is one of the darkest injustices in Tunisia's history," said the head of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, Bassam Trifi. Outraged Tunisian activists have been demonstrating outside the court in the capital, Tunis. Among the banners they carried was the slogan: "No to remote trials, No to a judiciary that does not guarantee rights, freedom for political detainees". Additional reporting by Lipika Pelham Tunisia's president - saviour or usurper of power? Pink flamingos 'seized from smugglers' in Tunisia 'My black skin says I don't belong in Tunisia' The fisherman who found a dead baby in his net Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
