AGP Executive Report

Tunisia Domestic Politics: Tunisia’s “Generation Z” youth movement has launched an official petition calling for President Kais Saied to resign and for early presidential and parliamentary elections, arguing the country is in an unprecedented structural crisis and that one-man rule has squandered reform opportunities. Human Rights & Detention: Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi ended a hunger and medication strike after five days, following a request from his medical team, but his defense renewed demands for hospital access and an end to isolation. Governance Under Strain: A new analysis marks five years since Saied’s power grab as a turning point where water and electricity shortages are driving fresh protests and exposing state failures that can no longer be blamed on others. Foreign Affairs: Tunisia’s FM Mohamed Ali Nafti held talks with Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha by phone on expanding trade, agriculture cooperation, higher education links, and the legal framework for bilateral ties. Regional Security: Libya saw the killing of Field Marshal Haftar’s military intelligence chief in Benghazi, amid renewed drone attacks targeting oil infrastructure.

Ennahda Prison Standoff: Rached Ghannouchi, Tunisia’s jailed Ennahda leader, began a hunger and medication strike on Aug. 6, alleging “complete isolation” after a July 29 hospital transfer, with lawyers and family barred from visits and even health updates; his defense team calls it “inhuman abuse,” while authorities have not commented. One-Man Rule Under Strain: A new analysis marks five years since Kais Saied’s 2021 coup, arguing Tunisia’s state failures now show up in daily life—especially power and water cuts—leaving fewer places to blame and more room for protests. Youth Push for Early Elections: “Generation Z” launched an official petition demanding Saied’s resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections, citing deepening economic, social, and political crises and a withdrawal of confidence in the president. Water-Electricity Crisis Fuels Discontent: Another report links the summer unrest to worsening shortages, including hospital power failures, and notes planned protests in Tunis. Tunisia-Ukraine Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti spoke by phone with Andrii Sybiha on strengthening trade, agriculture ties, higher education cooperation, and the legal framework for bilateral relations. Regional Migration Pressure: Commentary on the Ceuta crisis highlights how the July surge from Morocco into Spain became a major political flashpoint across Europe and North Africa.

Political Crisis Under Saied: Five years after Kais Saied’s one-man power grab, Tunisia’s summer discontent is sharpening as water and electricity cuts hit hospitals and daily life, with protests reported on July 25 and again after outages on Aug. 4-5, and another planned for Aug. 20. Ennahda Under Pressure: Rached Ghannouchi, jailed Ennahda leader, launched a hunger and medication strike on Aug. 6 over “complete isolation” after a July 29 hospital transfer, alleging lawyers and family were barred and health information withheld; his strike was later ended after a medical request, while his defense renewed demands for access. Youth Mobilization: The “Generation Z” movement has published an open national petition calling for Saied’s resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections, citing a deepening economic, social, and political breakdown. Foreign Policy: Tunisia’s FM Mohamed Ali Nafti held talks with Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha by phone on boosting trade, agriculture cooperation, higher education links, and updating the legal framework for bilateral ties. Regional Context: Coverage also highlights how North Africa faces a quieter economic squeeze from disrupted maritime trade and energy shocks tied to wider regional tensions.

Tunisia Domestic Politics: Rached Ghannouchi, jailed Ennahda leader, ended his hunger and medication strike after five days, following a request from the medical team—while his defense renewed demands for hospital access and an end to “isolation,” as authorities have not publicly responded. Tunisia Governance & Public Order: A separate report on Tunisia’s “summer of discontent” points to mounting anger over water and electricity shortages, with protests tied to repeated cuts and the sense that President Kais Saied’s five-year rule is failing to deliver. Regional Politics (Tunisia’s neighborhood): Morocco’s Islamist and leftist parties escalated criticism over the Ceuta border crisis, calling for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch’s resignation and an independent investigation—keeping the Mediterranean migration dispute in the spotlight. Foreign Affairs: Tunisia’s FM Mohamed Ali Nafti discussed with Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha ways to deepen cooperation across trade, agriculture, higher education, and the legal framework for bilateral ties. International Watch: A global rights and accountability angle also surfaced as a human-rights lawyer urged justice and cooperation to defeat violent extremism—relevant to Tunisia’s security debate.

Ennahda Under Pressure: Rached Ghannouchi, Tunisia’s jailed Ennahda leader, ended his hunger and medication strike after five days following a request from his medical team, but his defense renewed demands for hospital access and an end to “isolation,” as authorities have not publicly responded. Youth Mobilization: The “Generation Z” movement launched an official petition calling for President Kais Saied to resign and for early presidential and parliamentary elections, citing a deepening economic, social, and political breakdown. Governance & Daily Life: Tunisia’s “summer of discontent” is being driven by water and electricity shortages, with protests linked to repeated cuts and the sense that the government’s blame-shifting no longer convinces people. Foreign Policy: Tunisia’s FM Mohamed Ali Nafti spoke by phone with Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha on expanding trade and agricultural cooperation, boosting higher education links, and strengthening the legal framework for bilateral ties. Regional Security Watch: Libya saw renewed instability after the killing of Field Marshal Haftar’s military intelligence chief in Benghazi, alongside drone attacks on oil infrastructure.

Ennahda Prison Standoff: Rached Ghannouchi, Tunisia’s jailed Ennahda leader, ended his hunger and medication strike after five days, but his defense team renewed demands for hospital access and an end to “isolation,” keeping pressure on President Kais Saied’s justice and detention practices. Water & Power Crisis: Tunisia’s “summer of discontent” is intensifying as water and electricity shortages trigger fresh protests, with rotating cuts hitting daily life and even hospitals—undercutting Saied’s five-year rule narrative. Youth Opposition Push: The “Generation Z” movement launched an official petition calling for Saied’s resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections, framing the move as a response to deepening political, economic, and social breakdowns. Tunisia-Ukraine Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti spoke by phone with Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha on expanding trade and agricultural cooperation, boosting higher education links, and strengthening the legal framework for bilateral ties. Regional Security Ripples: Libya saw the killing of Field Marshal Haftar’s military intelligence chief in Benghazi amid drone attacks on oil infrastructure, underscoring renewed instability in Tunisia’s neighborhood. Culture as Politics: Emel Mathlouthi’s interview spotlights how Tunisian revolutionary music blends personal truth with activism, keeping the politics of expression in the spotlight.

Ennahda Prison Pressure: Rached Ghannouchi ended his five-day hunger and medication strike after a request from his medical team, but his defense renewed demands for hospital access, visits from lawyers and family, and an end to isolation. Tunisia’s Summer of Discontent: With water and electricity shortages driving fresh protests, a youth “Generation Z” petition is calling for President Kais Saied’s resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections. Regional Security & Rights: A rights lawyer argues Africa can’t win the terror war without justice, cooperation, and restorative approaches—warning that insecurity keeps spreading despite rising defense spending. Libya Spillover: A car bomb killed Haftar’s military intelligence chief in Benghazi as drones hit western Libya’s oil infrastructure, underscoring renewed instability. Cross-Border Migration Debate: The Ceuta surge continues to shape European politics, with renewed focus on border controls, Schengen tensions, and Morocco–Spain dynamics. Culture as Politics: Emel Mathlouthi links uncompromised personal truth in music to activism, reinforcing how Tunisian voices keep turning art into political leverage.

Tunisia’s summer of discontent: Five years after President Kais Saied’s power grab, water and electricity shortages are driving fresh protests, with cuts hitting hospitals and anger building ahead of another planned Tunis demonstration on Aug. 20. Opposition rights in court: Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi has launched a hunger and medication strike, alleging “complete isolation” and blocked access for lawyers and family while authorities provide no health information. Governance and security scandal: Tunisian investigators are probing the discovery of weapons, live ammunition, cash and expensive jewelry found in the home of a former governor in Mahdia, including an urgent terrorism-related inquiry into where the items came from and why they were kept. Regional security debate: A Sahel-focused rights lawyer argues Africa can’t beat violent extremism without stronger regional cooperation, criminal accountability and restorative justice. Ceuta migration fallout (context for Tunisia’s region): Spain’s Ceuta crisis continues to reverberate across Europe after the July surge, with reports of thousands of migrants returning to Morocco and a separate strain on reception capacity for unaccompanied minors.

Ennahda Rights Clash: Rached Ghannouchi, Tunisia’s jailed Ennahda leader, has launched a hunger and medication strike after his defense team says he’s been kept in “complete isolation” with lawyers and family barred from visiting or getting health updates. Water/Electricity Pressure: Northern governorates are seeing renewed mobilizations as water cuts stretch on and rotating power cuts anger residents and disrupt work, with protests and road blockades reported across multiple regions. Security & Corruption Probe: Tunisia’s authorities are investigating after weapons, live ammunition, cash and expensive jewelry were reportedly found in the home of a former governor in Mahdia, prompting urgent judicial action and terrorism-related inquiries. Migration Shock Spillover: Tunisia remains in the wider political orbit of Europe’s Ceuta crisis, where Spain and the EU face renewed pressure over border controls, reception capacity and the politics of Schengen after a surge of migrants from Morocco. Regional Diplomacy on Al-Aqsa: Tunisia is listed among Arab and Islamic states pushing for protection of Al-Aqsa and Jordan’s custodial role amid renewed tensions in East Jerusalem.

Water & Power Protests: Tunisia’s water cuts and rotating electricity outages have pushed residents in several northern governorates to block roads and stage demonstrations, with July heatwave conditions worsening losses for herders and boosting spending on water trucking. Fertiliser Supply Stress: Key fertiliser reserves have fallen below safety thresholds ahead of the cropping season, as China’s export halt and wider geopolitical shocks tighten availability of DAP and other non-urea fertilisers. Security & Corruption Probe: Tunisian authorities opened urgent investigations after weapons, live ammunition, cash and gold were reportedly found in the home of a former governor arrested on corruption charges. Democracy Under Strain: A special report revisits how Tunisia’s 2011 democratic experiment was hollowed out over time, arguing that the 2021 power grab built on earlier erosion. Foreign Policy: Tunisian FM Mohamed Ali Nafti met Arab League chief Nabil Fahmy in Amman to coordinate on Palestine and Libya, and also held talks with Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty to deepen cooperation. Regional Rights Pressure: A rights group renewed an international appeal for the release of Ghannouchi and other political prisoners in Tunisia.

Tunisia’s Democratic Backslide: A new analysis revisits how Tunisia’s post-2011 democratic experiment was hollowed out long before President Kais Saied’s 2021 power grab, arguing that popular acceptance of “rescue” politics helped set the stage for later authoritarian drift. Tunisian Anti-Corruption Probe: Tunisian authorities opened urgent investigations after weapons, live ammunition, cash (about $35,000), and expensive jewelry were found in the home of a governor arrested on corruption charges, with terrorism-crimes units now tracing the origin and purpose of the cache. Rights Under Pressure: A rights group issued an international appeal calling for the release of Ghannouchi and other political prisoners, as civil society warns Tunisia’s political space remains constrained. Foreign Policy, Regional Diplomacy: In Amman, Tunisian FM Mohamed Ali Nafti met Arab League SG Nabil Fahmy to coordinate on Palestine and Libya and to modernize Arab League mechanisms ahead of Tunisia’s rotating presidency of the Council. Tunisia-Egypt Partnership: Nafti also met Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty, reaffirming momentum from the 18th joint high commission and focusing on cooperation in electricity, renewables, infrastructure, and investment. Regional Security Lens: Tunisia’s role in Arab League efforts to protect Al-Aqsa featured in wider condemnations of Israeli actions, with Tunisia listed among committee members pushing for unified Arab positions.

Tunisia’s Security & Justice: Tunisia’s anti-terror and national security units opened urgent investigations after weapons, live ammunition, cash (about $35,000), and gold jewelry were reportedly found in the home of a governor arrested on corruption charges, with probes focused on the origin and purpose of the arsenal. Tunisia’s Foreign Policy: Tunisian FM Mohamed Ali Nafti met Arab League chief Nabil Fahmy in Amman to coordinate on Palestine, Libya, and Arab League modernization ahead of Tunisia’s rotating presidency of the Council, while Nafti also held talks with Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty on deepening cooperation. Regional Diplomacy on Al-Aqsa: Arab and Islamic states condemned Israeli actions at Al Aqsa and backed Jordan as custodian, with Tunisia listed among committee members pushing coordinated international pressure. Tunisia-Egypt Partnership: The two countries reaffirmed momentum after the 18th Tunisian-Egyptian Joint High Commission, stressing follow-up on economic, trade, electricity, renewables, and infrastructure cooperation. Ceuta Migration Fallout (Europe’s pressure point): Reports from Spain’s Ceuta highlighted the strain on reception capacity for unaccompanied migrant minors after the late-July surge, feeding renewed EU border and return-hub debates that keep Tunisia’s Mediterranean neighborhood in the spotlight.

Tunisia’s Democracy Under Strain: A new report revisits how President Kais Saied’s 25 July 2021 power grab landed on a system already weakened from within, arguing the slide into authoritarianism wasn’t sudden but built on earlier hollowing-out of Tunisia’s post-2011 democratic experiment. Corruption Probe in Mahdia: Tunisian authorities opened urgent investigations after weapons, live ammunition, cash (about $35,000), and expensive jewelry were found in the home of a former governor arrested on corruption charges, with investigators focused on the origin and purpose of the arsenal. Arab League Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti met Arab League chief Nabil Fahmy in Amman to coordinate on Palestine, Libya, and broader Arab action, as Tunisia prepares to take the rotating presidency of the Arab League Council. Tunisia-Egypt Partnership: Nafti also met Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty, reaffirming momentum from the 18th joint high commission and pushing cooperation in trade, investment, electricity, renewables, and infrastructure. Al-Aqsa Coordination: Tunisia is listed among Arab League committee members backing Jordan’s custodianship role after regional foreign ministers condemned Israeli actions at Al Aqsa and called for unrestricted access.

Tunisia’s Democratic Backsliding: A new report revisits how President Kais Saied’s 2021 power grab found fertile ground in earlier public frustration, arguing Tunisia’s democratic erosion was not only imposed from above but also enabled by a system already hollowed out. Tunisia–Arab Diplomacy: Tunisian FM Mohamed Ali Nafti met Arab League chief Nabil Fahmy in Amman to coordinate on Palestine, Libya and Arab League modernization as Tunisia prepares to take the rotating presidency of the Arab League Council. Tunisia–Egypt Partnership: Nafti also met Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty, stressing follow-up on the 18th joint high commission and pushing cooperation in electricity, renewables, infrastructure and investment. Corruption Probe With Security Twist: Tunisian authorities opened urgent investigations after weapons, ammunition, cash and gold were reportedly found in the home of a governor arrested on corruption charges in Mahdia. Regional Flashpoint—Al-Aqsa: Arab and Islamic states, with Tunisia among members, condemned Israeli actions at Al Aqsa and reiterated Jordan’s exclusive custodianship role after a meeting in Amman. Ceuta Migration Fallout (Europe–Africa spillover): Coverage of the Ceuta crisis continues, including EU calls for stronger border controls and the role of legal rulings and social media in triggering mass crossings.

Tunisia’s Democratic Backslide: A new analysis revisits how President Kais Saied’s 2021 power grab landed on a system already weakened from within, arguing Tunisia’s democratic erosion wasn’t only about later repression but also about earlier public acceptance and institutional hollowing. Anti-Corruption Probe in Mahdia: Tunisia’s judiciary and security units are investigating after weapons, live ammunition, cash (about $35,000), and expensive jewelry were reportedly found in the home of a governor arrested on corruption charges. Regional Diplomacy on Palestine and Libya: Tunisian FM Mohamed Ali Nafti met Arab League chief Nabil Fahmy in Amman to coordinate on Palestinian rights and Libya’s political process, as Tunisia prepares to take up the Arab League Council rotating presidency. Tunisia-Egypt Partnership: Nafti also met Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty, stressing follow-up on the 18th joint high commission and pushing cooperation in electricity, renewables, infrastructure, and trade. Human Rights Pressure: Rights groups renewed calls for the release of Ghannouchi and other political prisoners, linking the issue to broader civic space concerns. EU Migration Fallout (Ceuta): While not Tunisia-only, the Ceuta crisis keeps feeding regional political pressure—EU leaders and Italy push tougher border and return measures after tens of thousands surged into the Spanish enclave.

Tunisia’s Democratic Backslide: A new analysis argues Tunisia’s 2021 power grab by President Kais Saied didn’t start with repression alone, but with earlier public acceptance and the slow hollowing-out of the post-2011 democratic experiment. Rights Under Pressure: An international appeal urges Tunisia to release Rached Ghannouchi and other political prisoners, citing serious health deterioration and threats to detainees’ safety. Security Case With Political Fallout: Tunisia’s authorities opened urgent investigations after weapons, live ammunition, cash and gold were reportedly found in the home of a governor arrested on corruption charges. Regional Diplomacy on Palestine: Tunisian FM Mohamed Ali Nafti met Arab League chief Nabil Fahmy in Amman to coordinate on Palestine and Libya, while Tunisia also reaffirmed its role in Arab League efforts ahead of its rotating council presidency. Tunisia-Egypt Partnership: Nafti and Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty reviewed follow-up on the 18th joint high commission, focusing on trade, investment, electricity, renewables and infrastructure. Ceuta Migration Shock (Europe’s spillover): Coverage of the Ceuta crisis—tens of thousands of arrivals, deaths, and a legal dispute over returns—keeps feeding EU border politics and wider migration pressure that Tunisia’s region can’t ignore.