In July, concerns increased regarding the arrest, imprisonment, and disqualification of opposition figures in Tunisia. The National Salvation Front (NSF), a coalition of secular and Islamist parties, accused Tunisian authorities of targeting political opponents to undermine the opposition before the presidential election scheduled for 6 October. Key incidents include travel and media appearance restrictions imposed on a presidential candidate and former Ennahda leader, along with the detention of Ennahda's Secretary-General and two other party members. Additionally, significant legal actions were taken against opposition figures, resulting in two individuals being sentenced to six to eight months in prison, with one also being disqualified from running for the presidency. Some opposition parties plan to boycott the upcoming election, citing unfair conditions. 

Sources: Anadolu Ajansi, Amnesty International, L’Économiste Maghrébin, Reuters, Associated Press 

Tunisia held two rounds of elections to select members of local councils for a five-year term. These elections represent a significant step towards the establishment of the National Council of Regions and Districts, which will serve as a second chamber in the Tunisian parliamentary system. The second parliamentary chamber was established as part of the 2022 constitution. Opposition parties criticized the move as another step towards ‘authoritarian governance’, leading to calls for a boycott of the vote. More than 260 prominent Tunisian figures signed a petition against the election, claiming it aimed to weaken local power. 

The electoral process was marked by a lack of public interest and popular engagement was low. Tunisia’s Independent High Electoral Commission (ISIE) confirmed a 12.53 per cent voter turnout in the second round, a slight increase from the 11.7 per cent participation seen during the first round. 779 candidates were elected, including 72 women and 139 candidates under 36 years of age. The ISIE announced that two candidates' results were annulled due to violations; one held dual nationality, while the other was found guilty of electoral offenses. The final results will be announced in March following all administrative court appeals. The first round of elections, held in December 2023, saw 1,348 local council members elected from 6,177 candidates across 2,155 districts.

Sources: Tunis Afrique Presse, Reuters, Africa News, Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia, Middle East Eye

On 1 August, President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Najla Bouden and appointed Ahmed Hachani as her replacement. Hachani, who previously served as the human resources director at Tunisia's central bank, steps into his role amid an escalating economic and social crisis in the country.

Saied has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with government officials and the deteriorating public services, including frequent water and electricity disruptions. Her dismissal, for which no official reason was given, coincided with rising shortages, especially of state-subsidised bread. Recent escalations in these shortages have raised concerns of potential civil unrest similar to the deadly bread riots in 1984. President Saied emphasized the urgent need to address these challenges to ‘safeguard the country, its institutions, and societal peace’.

Sources: Tunis Afrique Presse (1), Al Jazeera, Le Monde, North Africa Journal, Tunis Afrique Presse (2), Gulf Times, Middle East Monitor

Tunisia has been grappling with an unprecedented surge in migration, associated with leading to an increase in racially motivated harassment and violence against refugees. In early July, Tunisian security forces reportedly relocated an estimated 1,200 migrants, the majority from sub-Saharan Africa to remote regions near the borders with Libya and Algeria. The expulsions followed days of unrest in the city of Sfax where Tunisians had held protests against the presence of refugees and a local man was killed during the violent confrontations. Human Rights Watch raised concerns on 6 July about the dire humanitarian situation and serious migrant rights violations. Tunisian authorities responded by relocating hundreds of migrants from border areas to town shelters after criticisms surfaced about living conditions. However, there are reports of migrants who have died or are missing in these remote areas, with Libyan authorities finding several bodies on their border with Tunisia. In the first half of 2023, Tunisian authorities rescued over 15,000 migrants and recovered the bodies of 901 more who drowned off its coast, according to the country's Interior Minister.

Sources: Al Jazeera (1), North Africa Post, Reuters (1), North Africa Journal, Human Rights Watch, Middle East Monitor, Reuters (2), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Al Jazeera (2)