Tunisia Seeks EU's Support as it Faces 'Exceptional Circumstances'

Tunisia's Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi (File Photo /AFP)
Tunisia's Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi (File Photo /AFP)
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Tunisia Seeks EU's Support as it Faces 'Exceptional Circumstances'

Tunisia's Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi (File Photo /AFP)
Tunisia's Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi (File Photo /AFP)

Tunisia's Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi reiterated the importance of the European partner adopting a comprehensive view of the Tunisian experience, taking into account the various economic, social, and regional factors that the country is going through.

During his meeting with EU Ambassador to Tunisia Marcus Cornaro, Jerandi said that his country adheres to the democratic option and is on a reform path that establishes true democracy.

Jerandi is confident that the European Union will continue to support Tunisia during these exceptional circumstances.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution concerning the situation in Tunisia, which called for a return to the democratic path.

But the political parties defending President Kais Saied's choices believe recent developments were "course correction and not a setback. However, other components described what the President did as a "coup" against the democratic path.

Saied invoked emergency powers under Article 80 of the constitution to sack Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, freeze parliament, lift the immunity of parliament members and make himself prosecutor general.

Meanwhile, Saied asserted to the European partners that Tunisia "will remain safe," and those working in the dark will not be able to achieve their goals.

Saied, accompanied by Prime Minister Naglaa Boden and Interior Minister Tawfiq Sharaf El-Din, inspected a tunnel discovered in the vicinity of the French ambassador's residence in Tunis.

On Wednesday, the Interior Minister announced that an anti-terrorism raid uncovered a tunnel being dug in the vicinity of the French ambassador's residence from a house frequented by a known extremist.

It said anti-terror officials are investigating the incident, without providing additional information.

Meanwhile, the Tunisian Human Rights League president, Jamal Musallam, called upon the four organizations that sponsored the 2013 national dialogue to propose a new national dialogue initiative.

Musallam said Tunisia is going through political instabilities that may impact the entire democratic path.

In a statement on the sidelines of a conference, Musallam said the new initiative's goal is to find a solution for the current situation within the framework of a dialogue that leads to actual reconciliation among the various components of Tunisian society.

Notably, Saied previously announced he was ready to launch a "wide national dialogue," with the participation of the youth as a starting point for changing the governing system in Tunisia, revising the constitution, and amending the electoral law.



Hamdok: Retaking Khartoum or Forming a Government Won’t End Sudan’s War

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)
Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)
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Hamdok: Retaking Khartoum or Forming a Government Won’t End Sudan’s War

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)
Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has warned that recent military gains by the Sudanese army, including the recapture of Khartoum, will not bring an end to the country’s devastating civil war.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Mo Ibrahim Governance Forum in Morocco, Hamdok dismissed efforts by the Port Sudan-based authorities to appoint a new prime minister and form a government, calling them “fake” and “irrelevant.”

There is no military solution to this conflict, Hamdok told The Associated Press, adding that whether Khartoum is taken or not, “it doesn’t matter,” as neither side can achieve a decisive victory.

The forum, held in Marrakech from June 1 to 3, brought together African and international leaders to discuss governance and development challenges across the continent.

Sudan’s conflict dominated the discussions, with members of the civilian coalition Sumud - led by Hamdok - highlighting the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe and rejecting military-led political maneuvers.

Sumud leaders warned that attempts to restore Sudan’s African Union membership, suspended after the 2021 military coup, could legitimize a flawed political process. They urged the international community not to fall into what they described as a “trap” by recognizing unrepresentative governance.

More than two years of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have left at least 24,000 dead, though many believe the true toll is far higher. Over 13 million people have been displaced, including 4 million who fled to neighboring countries. Famine and disease, including cholera, are spreading rapidly.

Despite the army’s territorial gains and the recent appointment of Kamil al-Tayeb Idris as prime minister, the RSF has regrouped in Darfur and advanced in other regions, including Kordofan. Hamdok dismissed suggestions that these developments signal an end to the war, calling such claims “nonsense.”

Hamdok, Sudan’s first civilian prime minister in decades, led a fragile transition following the 2019 ouster of Omar al-Bashir. He resigned in early 2022 after a military coup derailed efforts at democratic reform. Now, he warns that genuine peace is impossible without addressing Sudan’s deep-rooted issues, including regional inequality, identity conflicts, and the role of religion in governance.

“Any attempt to rebuild the country while fighting continues is absurd,” Hamdok said. “Trusting the military to deliver democracy is a dangerous illusion.”