Ennahda Accused of Stoking Tensions in Tunisia in Wake of Mysterious Fires

Head of the Ennahda movement Rached al-Ghannouchi. (EPA)
Head of the Ennahda movement Rached al-Ghannouchi. (EPA)
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Ennahda Accused of Stoking Tensions in Tunisia in Wake of Mysterious Fires

Head of the Ennahda movement Rached al-Ghannouchi. (EPA)
Head of the Ennahda movement Rached al-Ghannouchi. (EPA)

Tunisian authorities launched an investigation into the mysterious and simultaneous fires that broke out in several governorates.

The fires destroyed a market for traditional products in Gabes, a closed factory for second-hand clothes in Ben Arous, and a warehouse for old buses in Bizerte.

The fires all erupted on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, raising questions that they may be deliberate.

Supporters of President Kais Saeid said the opposition, led by the Ennahda movement, have an interest in stoking social tensions at this time by portraying the president as incapable of managing public affairs.

The opposition, on the other hand, accused the president's supporters of starting the fires as part of a plan to "make up ready-made accusations" against political parties with the ultimate goal of dissolving them.

Some neutral parties did not rule out the possibility that terrorist groups could be behind the fires. They cited an increase in crime in the past whenever political tensions spiked in the country, taking advantage of social and security instability to carry out attacks.

The head of the Anti-Corruption Committee in the dissolved parliament and member of the pro-Saeid “People’s Movement”, Badredine Gammoudi, said arsonists were responsible for these fires.

He called on the state to take action to prevent attempts to spread fear among Tunisians.

Several parties underscored the importance of protecting grain crops from fires, amid predictions of a record yield.



South Korea Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Syria

 In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
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South Korea Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Syria

 In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)

South Korea and Syria have signed an agreement in Damascus establishing diplomatic relations, the South Korean foreign ministry said on Friday, opening new ties with a traditional ally of its rival North Korea.

The event marks a milestone for South Korea now having established diplomatic ties with all 191 UN member states and opening "a new chapter for bilateral cooperation with Syria, which had long remained distant due to its close ties with North Korea," the South Korean foreign ministry said.

South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba last year, another old ally of the North.

North Korea's state media ceased mentions of Syria since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December except leader Kim Jong Un once referring to "the Middle East crisis" in passing.

A joint communique was signed by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday, and Cho expressed willingness to share South Korea's development experience to support Syria's reconstruction, the ministry said.

Cho later met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, it said.