Tunisian president pressing for control amid protests and rights concerns
Protests surge as Tunisia faces extreme heat, water and power shortages, with opposition groups criticizing President Kais Saied’s leadership. Demonstrators demand restored public services, release of detainees, and steps toward political reform amid ongoing economic strain.
Rights groups have reported at least 10 prisoner deaths in Tunisia during a severe August heatwave, citing overcrowding, water and power cuts and poor medical care; the Committee to Protect Journalists has urged release of jailed Tunisian reporters. In Iran, courts have handed death sentences to two women over January protests and lawmakers are considering a bill that would criminalise contact with foreign media, curbing reporting and international engagement.
President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second term with about 60% of the August vote, while the opposition leader Mundubile faces treason charges after post-election arrests as security operations raise concerns about the electoral process.
Gaza flotilla activists have joined Wael Naouar’s hunger strike in Tunisian custody amid a probe into alleged financial flows. The detainees’ health is deteriorating as a Tunisian court weighs extending pre-trial detention for six months.
A consortium-led investigation shows the US has struck third-country deportation deals with states and UN agencies to move undocumented migrants out of the US. By early 2026, thousands have been deported to countries like Cameroon, Eswatini, and Ghana, with hundreds of millions allocated to signatories and to UN agencies. Critics warn of coercion and opaque negotiations.
In Tunisia, four Global Sumud Flotilla activists remain in pre-trial detention as protests grow and global pressure mounts. Wael Naouar’s health deteriorates during a prolonged hunger strike, while supporters say the case targets civil society amid fears of a broader crackdown.
Protests led by UGTT and opposition groups have converged in Tunis amid an economic crisis, demanding freedom, the release of critics, and an end to restrictions on trade union rights. Police are deployed as demonstrators call for the president’s limits on power to be rolled back.
A Tunisian court has sentenced former Ennahda acting leader Mondher Ounissi to nine years and journalist Zied El Heni to four years in a case connected to leaked audio and terrorism charges. Several defendants tried in absentia receive long terms. The cases follow President Kais Saied’s consolidation of power and mounting pressure on dissent.
Protests over living conditions and police brutality have escalated in Tunisia. In Ettadhamen and Jebeniana, security forces have used tear gas to disperse demonstrators after deaths linked to police actions. Students in Sfax join a strike over medical services and a broader economic crisis fueling public anger.
Egypt has ordered the closure of independent outlet Mada Masr, fined editor‑in‑chief Lina Attalah three million Egyptian pounds and has briefly detained her after a Cairo misdemeanour court ruling. Authorities have also detained six staff from fact‑checking platform Matsdaash, who lawyers say have reported torture and forced confessions; rights groups have condemned the actions.