Protests Erupt in Tunisia Demanding Activation of Law 38

Protests in Tunis (AFP)
Protests in Tunis (AFP)
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Protests Erupt in Tunisia Demanding Activation of Law 38

Protests in Tunis (AFP)
Protests in Tunis (AFP)

Hundreds of Tunisian university graduates and unemployed youth marched in protests all over the country rejecting the decision of President Kais Saied to revoke Law 38, related to exceptional provisions for assignment in the government sector.

Angry protesters chanted against the President's decision, stressing that his rejection of the law, which Saied himself approved and ordered its publication in the official gazette, “is killing our dreams.”

Law 38, issued on 13 August 2020, is related to exceptional provisions for assignment in the government sector for those whose unemployment exceeds ten years.

However, the President proposed a different employment method, through private companies, because the state is no longer able to employ public servants.

Activist Ashwaq al-Ajlani said that Law 38 is a "red line" because it affects marginalized graduates, whose hopes, dreams, and lives have been lost.

They are demanding their right to be assigned to public office, Ajlani noted, adding that some university graduates have been unemployed for over ten years.

She asserted that the protests would continue until they attain their demands, calling on the President to reverse his decision.

In the same context, Hana Bouras said that her meeting with the President came after months of suffering and sit-ins, especially in the Kasbah and near the Carthage Palace.

Saied met with a group of unemployed youth who have been left without a job for over ten years.

Bouras said that they asked the President to “gradually” implement the law in the public service, taking into account the capabilities of the state. But the President said “forget about the public service.”

President Saied had considered that Law 38 was set up as a tool for governance and to contain the public's anger, noting that it was not applicable.



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.