Kais Saied faces criticism for cracking down on opposition and rights groups amid Tunisia’s worsening unrest and political purge.
Recent storms across Tunisia, Spain, and Portugal have caused fatalities, widespread damage, and disruptions. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and landslides have impacted communities, with authorities warning of ongoing risks due to climate change and urbanization. The storms highlight increasing extreme weather events in the region.
Tunisian police detained lawmaker Ahmed Saidani, a vocal critic of President Kais Saied, as part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures. Saidani recently mocked the president on Facebook, highlighting ongoing political repression since Saied's consolidation of power in 2021. The arrest underscores Tunisia's deteriorating political climate.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a Kuwaiti-American journalist detained in Kuwait since March 3, 2026, has been acquitted of charges including spreading false information and harming national security. He has safely left Kuwait after 52 days in detention. His arrest highlighted increased media restrictions in Gulf states during the US-Israel war on Iran, with rights groups condemning the charges as vague and used to silence independent journalism.
Tunisia has continued to restrict civil society organizations and arrest critics since President Kais Saied's power consolidation. Recent measures include suspending NGOs and detaining journalists, reflecting a broader crackdown on freedoms and opposition since 2021. These actions threaten Tunisia's democratic progress.