Tunisia News

Tunisia's ex-president Ben Ali dies in exile

By AFP

Tunis - Former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the first leader to be toppled by the Arab Spring revolts, died Thursday in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia's foreign ministry told AFP. He was 83.

Ousted Tunisian president Ben Ali dies at 83

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisia's all-powerful leader for over two decades, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was forced from power and into exile by a landmark popular uprising in early 2011, sparking revolts across the Arab world.

Students vow to propel professor to upset Tunisia presidential win

By AFP

Tunis - At the political science faculty where Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied taught law, a devoted following of young voters swayed by his campaign propelled the political novice to the second round.

Professor, detained mogul reach Tunisia presidential runoff

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisia's electoral commission confirmed on Tuesday that a presidential runoff vote will pit law professor Kais Saied against detained media mogul Nabil Karoui.

What next after outsiders take the lead in Tunisia polls?

By AFP

Tunis - Two political outsiders are set to go head-to-head in the race to become Tunisia's next president, according to the latest count after a first round of voting on Sunday.

Outsider leads after divisive Tunisia presidential poll

By AFP

Tunis - Political outsider Kais Saied was leading Tunisia's elections with just over a quarter of votes counted, the electoral commission said Monday, in the country's second free presidential vote since the Arab Spring.

Key candidates eyeing Tunisian presidency

By AFP

Tunis - Two dozen candidates, including two women, are vying to replace Tunisia's late leader Beji Caid Essebsi in Sunday's presidential polls.

Tunisia: cradle of the Arab Spring

By AFP

Tunis - Eight years after triggering the Arab Spring, Tunisia is held up as a model of democratic transition, while other countries that experienced the uprisings are gripped by chaos, repression or war.

Tunisia's exiled Ben Ali can return if sick: PM

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisia's prime minister said exiled former autocrat Zine el Abidine Ben Ali would be allowed to return home if he was critically ill as reported by his lawyer."I will give my green light for his return. It's a humanitarian case.

Tunisia gears up for presidential poll steeped in uncertainty

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisia will hold on Sunday its second free presidential election by universal suffrage since the 2011 uprising that toppled an autocratic regime, with growing uncertainty over who will reach the next round.

Tunisia Islamist party rebrands for election race

By AFP

Tunis - Chastened by its early experiences of holding power in post-revolution Tunisia, Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha has moderated its image and selected lawyer Abdelfattah Mourou as its candidate for next Sunday's presidential election.

Tunisia airs first 'great debate' ahead of presidential poll

By AFP

Tunis - Days before the first round of Tunisia's presidential election, the fledgling democracy on Saturday began three nights of televised debates between the candidates, a rare event in the Arab world.

Tunisia airs first 'great debate' ahead of presidential poll

By AFP

Tunis - Days before the first round of Tunisia's presidential election, the fledgling democracy is holding three nights of televised debates between the candidates, a rare event in the Arab world.

Detained Tunisia mogul's party presses on with presidential bid

By AFP

Tunis - Arrested just weeks before Tunisia's September 15 presidential polls, candidate Nabil Karoui has hit the campaign trail by proxy, deploying his wife and party activists to shake the hands he cannot.

Tunisia arrests media mogul presidential candidate: party

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisian authorities arrested a controversial presidential candidate and founder of a major television channel for alleged money laundering, his party said Friday, hours after his channel was banned from covering campaigning.

Tunisia presidential hopefuls line up for September polls

By AFP

Tunis - Presidential hopefuls in Tunisia began registering their candidacies on Friday for snap September polls called after the death of 92-year-old leader Beji Caid Essebsi.

Uncertainty for Tunisia as president dies at 92

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, the country's first leader elected in nationwide polls, died at the age of 92 on Thursday, triggering political uncertainty ahead of planned elections.

Tunisia president dies at 92: office

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, the North African country's first democratically elected leader, died Thursday at the age of 92, his office said.

Alan Kurdi rescue ship picks up another 44 migrants

By AFP

Valletta - The migrant rescue boat Alan Kurdi has saved another 44 people, including women and infants from their stricken vessel in the Mediterranean, its operator German charity Sea-Eye said on Tuesday.

Niqab banned in Tunisian government offices

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisia's premier on Friday banned the niqab Muslim face covering for women in government offices, citing security concerns after attacks in the North African country.

Tunisia says 92-year-old president improving after falling ill

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi's health was improving on Friday and the 92-year-old was expected to be discharged from hospital soon, his office said, a day after he fell ill.

No 'power vacuum' in Tunisia despite president's illness: advisor

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisia is not at risk of a power vacuum despite the sudden hospitalisation of President Beji Caid Essebsi, one of his advisors said Friday, describing veteran leader's condition as stable.

Tunisia's President Essebsi in 'critical condition'

By AFP

Tunis - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi was in "critical condition" Thursday after being taken to hospital with a serious illness, a key adviser said.

President falls ill as IS-claimed attacks hit Tunisia capital

By AFP

Tunis - Double suicide attacks shook Tunisia's capital Thursday, even as the country was plunged into uncertainty with the hospitalisation of President Beji Caid Essebsi who was said to be "seriously ill".

Double suicide blasts wound nine in Tunisia capital

By AFP

Tunis - Two suicide bombers attacked police and the national guard in the Tunisian capital on Thursday, wounding at least nine people including several civilians, the interior ministry said.

Tunisia fishermen turn life-savers in the Med

By AFP

Zarzis - The Tunisian trawler radioed in for help as it passed the migrant boat in distress out at sea. But with the packed craft still adrift two days later, captain Chamseddine Bourassine took direct action.

Tunisian-German couple in court over 'ricin attack plot'

By AFP

D - A Tunisian man and his German wife went on trial Friday, charged with planning a foiled biological bomb attack in Germany with the deadly poison ricin.Sief Allah H.

UN expert back in Germany after release from Tunisia

By AFP

New York - A United Nations arms experts who was arrested in Tunisia in late March on espionage charges has been released and is recovering at home in Berlin, the UN spokesman said Wednesday.

UN demands Tunisia drop charges against arms expert

By AFP

New York - The United Nations on Wednesday rejected Tunisia's reasons for the arrest in March of a UN expert on suspicion of espionage and demanded that charges against him be dropped.

Bangladeshi farmer among migrants saved by Tunisian fishermen

By AFP

Zarzis - A Bangladeshi farmer watched dozens drown beside him in the Mediterranean before "God sent us the fishermen", who saved him from the cold waters and took him to Tunisia.