Confrontations Renew Between Tunisian Security, Protesters in Tataouine

Protestors stage a sit-in outside the oil and gas plant in El Kamour, in Tunisia’s southern state of Tatatouine (AFP)
Protestors stage a sit-in outside the oil and gas plant in El Kamour, in Tunisia’s southern state of Tatatouine (AFP)
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Confrontations Renew Between Tunisian Security, Protesters in Tataouine

Protestors stage a sit-in outside the oil and gas plant in El Kamour, in Tunisia’s southern state of Tatatouine (AFP)
Protestors stage a sit-in outside the oil and gas plant in El Kamour, in Tunisia’s southern state of Tatatouine (AFP)

Protests and clashes broke out again on Friday between protesters and army units in Remada city, in Tunisia’s Tataouine state.

This comes in light of the shooting incident against Mansour al-Taroumi on Tuesday evening near the Tunisian-Libyan border.

Protesters burned tires and closed the roads using containers and rocks to prevent army vehicles from entering the neighborhoods as security units chased demonstrators inside residential compounds.

The military judiciary launched a probe to determine the incident’s ramifications and find out whether the young man died from the bullets fired by soldiers at four cars that were smuggled from Libya.

President Kais Saied warned on Thursday of the dangers of attempting to drag the army into internal political struggles amid ongoing protests in Tataouine.

During a meeting of the National Security Council, the President warned of the gravity of the situation, noting that some unnamed parties are trying to harm the state by targeting its institutions and trying to diminish its authority in some regions.

Few hours earlier, more than 100 people gathered near oil facilities southeastern Tunisia to denounce the marginalization and demand job opportunities and investments, according to an AFP photographer.

On Thursday, dozens of people staged a sit-in outside the oil and gas plant in El Kamour desert area.

Mostly youth, protesters set up tents and prevented trucks of the six petroleum companies involved in extracting oil and gas from passing.

Saied said in a video released on the presidential official Facebook page that the “situation in the south is not acceptable.”

He affirmed the “legitimacy” of these protests, noting that he is ready to receive any of the protesters to hold talks and reach a settlement.

The Kamour movement, which has been leading the local protests since 2017, called on the government to provide more job opportunities and put an end to regional development inequality.

Protesters demand that the government implement the terms of an agreement concluded in 2017, which provides for jobs and investments in the marginalized region.



Confession in Hisham al-Hashimi Killing Sparks Outrage in Iraq

File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)
File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)
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Confession in Hisham al-Hashimi Killing Sparks Outrage in Iraq

File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)
File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)

A leaked video showing the confession of the man accused of killing prominent Iraqi researcher Hisham al-Hashimi has reignited public scrutiny of the 2020 assassination and raised fresh questions about those behind the killing and the judiciary's handling of the case.

The video, widely circulated among Iraqi users on X, shows Ahmed Hamdawi Owaid detailing his role in the drive-by shooting that claimed al-Hashimi’s life outside his home in Baghdad’s Zayouna district.

The clip sparked a torrent of commentary on social media, with many Iraqis criticizing both armed factions and the judiciary.

Speculation swirled over who leaked the interrogation footage, which appears to have come from a police officer, and what their motives were. Many believe the leak was a calculated move by opponents of both the judiciary and powerful militias, reflecting the deep divisions between Iraq’s ruling forces, armed groups, and judicial authorities.

In the video, Hamdawi names senior Kataib Hezbollah figure and current lawmaker Hussein Moanes as the one who ordered the hit, a revelation seen as a direct blow to the Iran-aligned militia. Moanes, also known by his alias Abu Ali al-Askari, recently lashed out at calls to disarm armed factions.

Al-Askari had operated anonymously on X for years before al-Hashimi revealed his identity weeks ahead of his assassination, linking him to Moanes, a move that some now view as a possible trigger for the killing.

While some outlets quoted Moanes denying involvement, the Sabereen News channel, which is affiliated with armed groups, said he has not issued any official response.

Judiciary Under Fire

The leak has placed Iraq’s judiciary under renewed scrutiny, particularly after it released Hamdawi in March 2024 for “lack of evidence” despite his recorded confession and detailed description of the crime.

Rather than addressing the inconsistencies surrounding Hamdawi’s release, Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council issued a statement condemning the leak, calling it illegal and an attempt to mislead public opinion.

The council confirmed that Hamdawi had been detained under Order No. 29, which established a committee led by former intelligence officer Abu Ragheef during Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s tenure.

The statement added that Hamdawi gave different testimony before the judicial committee than what he said in the leaked video.

The Abu Ragheef committee had previously faced criticism from armed faction-aligned figures, and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ultimately disbanded it in 2022 after assuming office.

The judiciary noted that the leaked video was likely filmed by a police officer on the committee, and that its publication violated legal investigative procedures.

Calls for Justice Persist

It remains unclear whether the new evidence will lead to a retrial. Hamdawi was reinstated as a police officer after his acquittal, and a leaked document suggests he was included in the Interior Ministry’s annual promotions list.

Judicial sources say a retrial is unlikely given the political pressure on the courts and resistance from influential factions to reopening the case.

Al-Hashimi, an expert on extremist groups and a government advisor, was gunned down on July 6, 2020. Days later, Kadhimi announced the arrest of the suspects, including Hamdawi, whose initial confession was broadcast on state television.

Despite multiple court hearings beginning in September 2021, the judiciary postponed the verdict in six separate sessions before ultimately releasing him in late 2022. The delays fueled suspicions among activists and civil society groups that political pressure was exerted to secure Hamdawi’s release.

Five years on, al-Hashimi’s murder remains unsolved, and his killers have yet to face justice.