Tunisia’s president since 2019, jurist and political figure
A Western Sahara independence activist, Naama Asfari, is reportedly on hunger strike in a Moroccan jail for over 40 days, demanding his freedom. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights has voiced great concern about his health and the lack of information on his location, while prison authorities say his condition is monitored and normal.
Protests across western Libya intensify as heatwaves push outages to new highs. Demonstrators demand accountability and the dissolution of fractured authorities after massive power cuts disrupt daily life and energy supplies.
A massive wildfire has forced more than 220,000 people to evacuate in the Gironde region, with flames threatening communities near Bordeaux. Across Europe, thousands have fled, and regional shelters are operating to support displaced residents.
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.