A report by the Guardian, on Friday (July 14) said that the European Commission president will return to Tunisia, over the weekend with the prime ministers of Italy and the Netherlands to sign a $1.12 billion (1 billion euro) deal.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the deal about?</h2>

The billion euro package was first announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by the Europe Union for the North African nation.&nbsp;

The British media report citing sources also said that a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed, on Sunday, with von der Leyen accompanying Italian and Dutch PMs Giorgia Meloni and Mark Rutte to Tunisia.&nbsp;

The so-called “macro-financial assistance” package was announced last month, with $1 billion (900 million euros) directed towards helping Tunisia’s economy.&nbsp;

The rest will be divided into a reform agenda set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a partnership with Tunisia to combat people smuggling, human trafficking and the continuing tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea.&nbsp;

This comes weeks after Tunisian President Kais Saied rejected the package and said that Tunis will not be the EU’s “border guard”.&nbsp;

The country has witnessed a spike in racially motivated attacks after Saied <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tunisian-president-calls-for-expulsion-of-migrants-as-wave-of-crackdowns-on-dissents-continues-565946">accused</a> illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan African countries of bringing violence and alleging a “criminal plot” to change the country’s demography.

This has led many to leave Tunisia via the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-willfully-ignoring-deaths-of-nearly-300-children-this-year-trying-to-cross-mediterranean-un-615785">dangerous Mediterranean Sea route</a> to reach Europe. Several countries in the EU, particularly Italy, have been looking to reduce the increasing number of migrants fleeing Africa with most of the departures to Rome being from Tunisia.&nbsp;

In the Netherlands, tensions ran high as Rutte, longest serving Dutch PM, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mark-rutte-longest-serving-pm-of-netherlands-calls-it-quits-after-govt-collapse-613875">quit</a>&nbsp;after failing to secure a package of measures to rein in migration.&nbsp;

Additionally, several members of the EU parliament have voiced opposition and concerns about giving Tunisia 1 billion euros over its breakdown of democracy under President Saied and the 27-nation bloc being complicit as it happens.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<h2>Rights groups urge support for migrants</h2>

On Friday, Tunisian rights groups sounded alarm over the deteriorating situation in the country’s port of Sfax with hundreds of migrants fleeing or being forced out of Tunisia’s second-largest city.&nbsp;

Sfax is a departure point for migrants making their way to Europe but due to the unrest there, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tunisia-mulls-new-cemeteries-as-hundreds-of-dead-refugees-wash-up-on-coast-587777">hundreds</a> were forcibly taken to the desert bordering Libya and Algeria. Around 100 and 150 migrants including women and children are stuck on the border with Libya, said Romdane Ben Amor of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), on Friday.&nbsp;

Some 165 migrants were abandoned near the border with Algeria and were later picked up without any specifications of by whom or where they were taken, he added. Amor said that migrants need to be provided with emergency accommodation after the bodies of two migrants were found and fear of finding more, in the upcoming days.&nbsp;

Naila Zoghlami, head of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, said Saied’s remarks have given people “green light to do what they liked to migrants,” adding that women from sub-Saharan African countries told her organisation that they had been raped by Tunisians.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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A report by the Guardian, on Friday (July 14) said that the European Commission president will return to Tunisia, over the weekend with the prime ministers of Italy and the Netherlands to sign a $1.

A report by the Guardian, on Friday (July 14) said that the European Commission president will return to Tunisia, over the weekend with the prime ministers of Italy and the Netherlands to sign a $1.12 billion (1 billion euro) deal. What is the deal about? The billion euro package was first announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by the Europe Union for the North African nation. The British media report citing sources also said that a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed, on Sunday, with von der Leyen accompanying Italian and Dutch PMs Giorgia Meloni and Mark Rutte to Tunisia. The so-called “macro-financial assistance” package was announced last month, with $1 billion (900 million euros) directed towards helping Tunisia’s economy. The rest will be divided into a reform agenda set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a partnership with Tunisia to combat people smuggling, human trafficking and the continuing tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea. This comes weeks after Tunisian President Kais Saied rejected the package and said that Tunis will not be the EU’s “border guard”. The country has witnessed a spike in racially motivated attacks after Saied accused illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan African countries of bringing violence and alleging a “criminal plot” to change the country’s demography. This has led many to leave Tunisia via the dangerous Mediterranean Sea route to reach Europe. Several countries in the EU, particularly Italy, have been looking to reduce the increasing number of migrants fleeing Africa with most of the departures to Rome being from Tunisia. In the Netherlands, tensions ran high as Rutte, longest serving Dutch PM, quit after failing to secure a package of measures to rein in migration. Additionally, several members of the EU parliament have voiced opposition and concerns about giving Tunisia 1 billion euros over its breakdown of democracy under President Saied and the 27-nation bloc being complicit as it happens. Rights groups urge support for migrants On Friday, Tunisian rights groups sounded alarm over the deteriorating situation in the country’s port of Sfax with hundreds of migrants fleeing or being forced out of Tunisia’s second-largest city. Sfax is a departure point for migrants making their way to Europe but due to the unrest there, hundreds were forcibly taken to the desert bordering Libya and Algeria. Around 100 and 150 migrants including women and children are stuck on the border with Libya, said Romdane Ben Amor of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), on Friday. Some 165 migrants were abandoned near the border with Algeria and were later picked up without any specifications of by whom or where they were taken, he added. Amor said that migrants need to be provided with emergency accommodation after the bodies of two migrants were found and fear of finding more, in the upcoming days. Naila Zoghlami, head of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, said Saied’s remarks have given people “green light to do what they liked to migrants,” adding that women from sub-Saharan African countries told her organisation that they had been raped by Tunisians. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EU to give Tunisia over $1 billion to combat trafficking, support economy: Report

Thousands of members of Tunisia’s leading political force,&nbsp;Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail&nbsp;(UGTT) also known as the&nbsp;Tunisian General Labour Union&nbsp;took to the streets across eight cities in the country in protest against&nbsp;President Kais Saied’s policies, on Saturday (February 18). Subsequently, the country’s government expelled the head of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) for taking part in these demonstrations. This comes as the trade union has accused Saied’s government of stifling freedoms including union rights.

The recent protests also come days after dozens of journalists and rights activists protested in the Tunisian capital Tunis which was organised by the SNJT journalists’ union following the arrest of the director of popular private radio station Mosaique FM, Noureddine Boutar. At the time, protesters had accused the government of “repression” and intimidation of the media.&nbsp;

The demonstrations on Saturday also marked an escalation of growing opposition against Saied’s government and criticised the recent arrests of several anti-government figures which included politicians, a journalist, two judges, and a senior UGTT official.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tunisia-president-sacks-foreign-minister-amid-political-slugfest-economic-turmoil-559795">Tunisia president sacks foreign minister amid political slugfest, economic turmoil</a> 
 
Addressing the expulsion of ETUC’s Esther Lynch, the UGTT senior official Sami Tahri told Reuters, “We condemn this shocking decision...it not only contains a confrontation against UGTT, but rather with the international union movement.”&nbsp;He added that the ETUC official was also harassed and prevented from leaving her hotel for dinner.&nbsp;

Following her participation in the protests,&nbsp;the Tunisian president in a statement, late Saturday,&nbsp;declared Lynch as “persona non grata” and asked the Irish citizen to leave the country within 24 hours. The government reportedly also called her participation in the protests a “blatant interference” in the country’s affairs.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tunisian-general-labour-union-holds-demonstrations-across-country-563606">Tunisian General Labour Union holds demonstrations across country</a>

The recent wave of arrests has also prompted the United Nations Human Rights Office to call for the immediate release of those detained while the move has raised concerns about the Tunisian government conducting a wider crackdown on dissent. The journalists’ union which held a protest on Thursday in this context, raised slogans like “No to repression of journalists” and “We demand an independent free press,” reported AFP.

Similarly,&nbsp;thousands of protesters in the southern city of Sfax carried national flags and raised slogans like “Stop the attack on union freedoms” and “Cowardly Saied, the union is not afraid”, reported Reuters. The other seven cities where demonstrations were held are Jendouba, Tozeur, Monastir, Bizerte, Kasserine, Kairouan and Nabeul.&nbsp;

Furthermore, as per media reports, additional protests are planned in the upcoming days with the concluding rally in the capital city early next month. While addressing the demonstration in Sfax, Lynch had said, she was there on behalf of 45 million European trade unionists who also support the Tunisian trade union while also calling for the immediate release of the detained union officials.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tunisian-police-arrest-prominent-political-activists-and-influential-businessman-561237">Tunisian police arrest prominent political activists and influential businessman</a>

Notably, the aforementioned private radio station has reportedly been critical of Saied who two years ago sacked the government, froze parliament, and seized almost total power of the country after writing a new constitution, a move that many have termed a power grab and rivals called a coup. As of last week, Boutar’s arrest took the total number of public figures detained to 10, most of whom are said to be critical of Saied’s government.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Tunisian president in his first comments after the wave of arrests called those detained “traitors” and accused them of being responsible for fueling a social crisis, price increases, and food shortages. This week he also said that the authorities do not target freedoms, but seek to hold everyone equally accountable, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Thousands of members of Tunisia’s leading political force, Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) also known as the Tunisian General Labour Union took to the streets across eight cities in the country in protest against President Kais Saied’s policies, on Saturday (February 18).

Thousands of members of Tunisia’s leading political force, Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) also known as the Tunisian General Labour Union took to the streets across eight cities in the country in protest against President Kais Saied’s policies, on Saturday (February 18). Subsequently, the country’s government expelled the head of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) for taking part in these demonstrations. This comes as the trade union has accused Saied’s government of stifling freedoms including union rights. The recent protests also come days after dozens of journalists and rights activists protested in the Tunisian capital Tunis which was organised by the SNJT journalists’ union following the arrest of the director of popular private radio station Mosaique FM, Noureddine Boutar. At the time, protesters had accused the government of “repression” and intimidation of the media. The demonstrations on Saturday also marked an escalation of growing opposition against Saied’s government and criticised the recent arrests of several anti-government figures which included politicians, a journalist, two judges, and a senior UGTT official. ALSO READ | Tunisia president sacks foreign minister amid political slugfest, economic turmoil Addressing the expulsion of ETUC’s Esther Lynch, the UGTT senior official Sami Tahri told Reuters, “We condemn this shocking decision...it not only contains a confrontation against UGTT, but rather with the international union movement.” He added that the ETUC official was also harassed and prevented from leaving her hotel for dinner. Following her participation in the protests, the Tunisian president in a statement, late Saturday, declared Lynch as “persona non grata” and asked the Irish citizen to leave the country within 24 hours. The government reportedly also called her participation in the protests a “blatant interference” in the country’s affairs. ALSO WATCH | Tunisian General Labour Union holds demonstrations across country The recent wave of arrests has also prompted the United Nations Human Rights Office to call for the immediate release of those detained while the move has raised concerns about the Tunisian government conducting a wider crackdown on dissent. The journalists’ union which held a protest on Thursday in this context, raised slogans like “No to repression of journalists” and “We demand an independent free press,” reported AFP. Similarly, thousands of protesters in the southern city of Sfax carried national flags and raised slogans like “Stop the attack on union freedoms” and “Cowardly Saied, the union is not afraid”, reported Reuters. The other seven cities where demonstrations were held are Jendouba, Tozeur, Monastir, Bizerte, Kasserine, Kairouan and Nabeul. Furthermore, as per media reports, additional protests are planned in the upcoming days with the concluding rally in the capital city early next month. While addressing the demonstration in Sfax, Lynch had said, she was there on behalf of 45 million European trade unionists who also support the Tunisian trade union while also calling for the immediate release of the detained union officials. ALSO READ | Tunisian police arrest prominent political activists and influential businessman Notably, the aforementioned private radio station has reportedly been critical of Saied who two years ago sacked the government, froze parliament, and seized almost total power of the country after writing a new constitution, a move that many have termed a power grab and rivals called a coup. As of last week, Boutar’s arrest took the total number of public figures detained to 10, most of whom are said to be critical of Saied’s government. Meanwhile, the Tunisian president in his first comments after the wave of arrests called those detained “traitors” and accused them of being responsible for fueling a social crisis, price increases, and food shortages. This week he also said that the authorities do not target freedoms, but seek to hold everyone equally accountable, reported Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tunisia: Govt expels ETUC chief for participating in protests against president’s policies

A day after Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi was ousted, Tunisian President Kais Saied sacked defence minister Ibrahim Bartaji and acting justice minister Hasna Ben Slimane.

Watch:

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The move follows protests against the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic as troops marched into Tunis to restore order. The political crisis has been heightened as&nbsp;coronavirus deaths climbed&nbsp;to over 18,000 in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pictures-from-jasmine-revolution-to-parliament-suspension-10-years-of-tunisia-since-its-arab-spring-revolt-400693">Pictures | From Jasmine Revolution to Parliament suspension: 10 years of Tunisia since its Arab Spring revolt</a>

President Saied said he had "taken the necessary decisions to save Tunisia, the state and the Tunisian people". Saied had declared that the Parliament will be suspended for the next 30 days due to "imminent danger".

Clashes erupted on the streets of Tunisia after Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi. Justice minister Hasna Ben Slimane was also the government spokesman.

The political crisis has been heightened amid deadlock and disputes between Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and lawmakers as Saied invoked emergency powers under the constitution to dismiss PM Mechichi.

Amid the deteriorating situation, the Biden administration urged Tunisia to adhere to "democratic principles"&nbsp;while the French foreign ministry called "on all of the country's political forces to avoid any form of violence and to preserve the country's democratic gains."

(With inputs from Agencies)

A day after Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi was ousted, Tunisian President Kais Saied sacked defence minister Ibrahim Bartaji and acting justice minister Hasna Ben Slimane.

A day after Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi was ousted, Tunisian President Kais Saied sacked defence minister Ibrahim Bartaji and acting justice minister Hasna Ben Slimane. Watch: The move follows protests against the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic as troops marched into Tunis to restore order. The political crisis has been heightened as coronavirus deaths climbed to over 18,000 in the country. Pictures | From Jasmine Revolution to Parliament suspension: 10 years of Tunisia since its Arab Spring revolt President Saied said he had "taken the necessary decisions to save Tunisia, the state and the Tunisian people". Saied had declared that the Parliament will be suspended for the next 30 days due to "imminent danger". Clashes erupted on the streets of Tunisia after Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi. Justice minister Hasna Ben Slimane was also the government spokesman. The political crisis has been heightened amid deadlock and disputes between Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and lawmakers as Saied invoked emergency powers under the constitution to dismiss PM Mechichi. Amid the deteriorating situation, the Biden administration urged Tunisia to adhere to "democratic principles" while the French foreign ministry called "on all of the country's political forces to avoid any form of violence and to preserve the country's democratic gains." (With inputs from Agencies)

After dismissing PM, Tunisia president sacks defence minister

Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid on Saturday lost a confidence vote in parliament, after just a year and a half in office. 
 
A total of 118 MPs voted to unseat Essid, three voted for him to stay at the helm and 27 abstained. 
 
Essid&#39;s government has been widely criticised for failing to tackle the country&#39;s economic crisis, high unemployment and a series of jihadist attacks. He had been under growing pressure since President Beji Caid Essebsi appeared on local television in June to criticise the administration and propose creating a new government of national unity. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m quite aware that the vote will be against me,&quot; Essid, 67, had told parliament ahead of the planned vote. 
 
&quot;I didn&#39;t come to obtain the 109 votes (needed to remain in office). I came to expose things to the people and to members of parliament,&quot; he had said before the vote. 
 
Essid has been under growing pressure since President Beji Caid Essebsi appeared on local TV in June to slam the administration and propose creating a new government of national unity. 
 
The premier said he would be ready to resign &quot;if the country&#39;s interest demanded it&quot;, but has said he refused to leave under pressure without a vote of confidence. 
 
Essid had already been forced into a broad reshuffle in January, when the country witnessed some of its worst social unrest since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. 
 
His supporters have condemned &quot;pressure&quot; from supporters of Hafedh Caid Essebsi, the president&#39;s son who is among the leaders of the Nidaa Tounes party. 
 
Essid&#39;s coalition government includes four groups including the party Essebsi founded in 2012, Nidaa Tounes, and the Islamist Ennahda party. 
 
Tunisia, whose 2011 uprising inspired similar revolts across Arab countries, has been touted as a regional example of a successful transition to democracy after a revolution. 
 
But successive governments have struggled to tackle a jihadist insurgency and to revive the country&#39;s flagging economy. 
 
Security forces frequently engage in deadly clashes with extremist groups in the mountainous west of the country. 
 
Last year the Islamic State jihadist group claimed two high-profile attacks in Tunisia that killed 59 foreign tourists.&nbsp; 
 
The country has been in a state of emergency since November, when a suicide bombing, also claimed by IS, killed 12 presidential guards in central Tunis. 
 
Economic growth slowed to 0.8 per cent last year from 2.3 per cent in 2014, and unemployment nationwide stood at 15 per cent at the end of last year. 
 
(AFP)

118 MPs voted to unseat Essid who has been criticised for failing to tackle the country's economic crisis, unemployment and jihadist attacks

Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid on Saturday lost a confidence vote in parliament, after just a year and a half in office. A total of 118 MPs voted to unseat Essid, three voted for him to stay at the helm and 27 abstained. Essid's government has been widely criticised for failing to tackle the country's economic crisis, high unemployment and a series of jihadist attacks. He had been under growing pressure since President Beji Caid Essebsi appeared on local television in June to criticise the administration and propose creating a new government of national unity. "I'm quite aware that the vote will be against me," Essid, 67, had told parliament ahead of the planned vote. "I didn't come to obtain the 109 votes (needed to remain in office). I came to expose things to the people and to members of parliament," he had said before the vote. Essid has been under growing pressure since President Beji Caid Essebsi appeared on local TV in June to slam the administration and propose creating a new government of national unity. The premier said he would be ready to resign "if the country's interest demanded it", but has said he refused to leave under pressure without a vote of confidence. Essid had already been forced into a broad reshuffle in January, when the country witnessed some of its worst social unrest since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. His supporters have condemned "pressure" from supporters of Hafedh Caid Essebsi, the president's son who is among the leaders of the Nidaa Tounes party. Essid's coalition government includes four groups including the party Essebsi founded in 2012, Nidaa Tounes, and the Islamist Ennahda party. Tunisia, whose 2011 uprising inspired similar revolts across Arab countries, has been touted as a regional example of a successful transition to democracy after a revolution. But successive governments have struggled to tackle a jihadist insurgency and to revive the country's flagging economy. Security forces frequently engage in deadly clashes with extremist groups in the mountainous west of the country. Last year the Islamic State jihadist group claimed two high-profile attacks in Tunisia that killed 59 foreign tourists. The country has been in a state of emergency since November, when a suicide bombing, also claimed by IS, killed 12 presidential guards in central Tunis. Economic growth slowed to 0.8 per cent last year from 2.3 per cent in 2014, and unemployment nationwide stood at 15 per cent at the end of last year. (AFP)

Tunisian PM Habib Essid loses parliamentary confidence vote