Tunisia’s Saied Refuses to Meet with Ghannouchi, Mechichi to Resolve Political Crisis

 Tunisian President Kais Saied (Reuters)
Tunisian President Kais Saied (Reuters)
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Tunisia’s Saied Refuses to Meet with Ghannouchi, Mechichi to Resolve Political Crisis

 Tunisian President Kais Saied (Reuters)
Tunisian President Kais Saied (Reuters)

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied refused a proposal to attend a round table meeting with Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi and Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, according to leader in Ennahda Movement Ali Larayedh.

Ghannouchi proposed organizing the dialogue, in an attempt to overcome the ongoing four-month-long political crisis in the country, said Larayedh.

Saied also refused to organize a national dialogue and ignored an initiative in this regard by the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT).

Observers consider Saied’s position a “disruption to the constitution” that enabled him to win the presidential race, he added, affirming that the disagreement among various parties “is not simple” but could be resolved through negotiations.

Larayedh also accuses Saied of “disrespecting” other parties, which led to the failure of all dialogue attempts.

He further refused to “play his constitutional role, which stipulates holding meetings with the PM and the parliament speaker to consult, define the state policy and preserve Tunisia’s supreme interest.”

Larayedh said the President is putting more obstacles against the government formation, citing his refusal to accept the cabinet reshuffle and receive the new ministers for the constitutional oath.

“Saied also refused to sign the constitutional court law amendments introduced by the parliament and called for toppling the government.”

Commenting on Mechichi’s government, Larayedh said “it is strongly supported by the parliamentary coalition, which enabled it to survive despite repeated calls to topple it.”

Saied sought in every way to “obstruct the government work and disrupt the work of state institutions by threatening, intimidating and dividing Tunisians,” he stressed.



‘Oil-for-Salaries’ Deal Ends Dispute Between Baghdad and Erbil

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani stressed the need to put an end to attacks on the region, particularly targeting oil fields (Reuters)
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani stressed the need to put an end to attacks on the region, particularly targeting oil fields (Reuters)
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‘Oil-for-Salaries’ Deal Ends Dispute Between Baghdad and Erbil

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani stressed the need to put an end to attacks on the region, particularly targeting oil fields (Reuters)
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani stressed the need to put an end to attacks on the region, particularly targeting oil fields (Reuters)

The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) reached a landmark agreement on Thursday that ends a years-long dispute over oil revenues and public sector salaries.

The deal, announced following an emergency cabinet meeting in Baghdad, covers oil production handover, non-oil revenue sharing, and the resumption of salary payments to KRG employees beginning with May 2025.

According to a government statement, the agreement was based on a recommendation by a ministerial committee and aligned with Kurdistan’s regional cabinet decision No. 285, issued on July 16.

KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani confirmed the breakthrough, stating that the federal government had approved a “mutual understanding regarding salaries and the region’s financial entitlements.”

Under the terms of the deal, the KRG will hand over all crude oil production - currently 280,000 barrels per day (bpd) - to Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), with the exception of 50,000 bpd reserved for domestic consumption. This marks the first such commitment in more than two years, during which oil exports were suspended amid ongoing disputes and recent drone strikes targeting northern oilfields operated mostly by US firms.

In return, the federal Ministry of Finance will pay $16 per barrel, in cash or in kind, to cover production costs. Revenues from locally consumed oil derivatives will go to the federal treasury after deducting production and transport expenses.

On non-oil revenues, the KRG will transfer an initial 120 billion Iraqi dinars (approx. $92 million) to the federal finance ministry, representing an estimate of Baghdad’s share for May. A joint audit team from both governments will verify and finalize the figures within two weeks.

To resolve long-standing disputes over public salaries, a new joint committee will oversee the localization of KRG employee payrolls, in line with a ruling from the Federal Supreme Court. The committee is expected to complete its work within three months.

As part of the agreement’s first phase, the federal government will begin disbursing May salaries following confirmation from SOMO that the agreed oil volumes have been received.