Politics

Anti-Saied protests continue in Tunisia amidst growing political, economic woes

Published

2 years ago

January 14, 2023

President Kais Saied’s reign as Tunisian President has continued to meet confrontations as thousands of Tunisians marched Saturday in the capital to protest against the regime.

The demonstrators accused the president of seeking to install a new dictatorship amid a worsening economic crisis.

There were local reports that established that separate rallies by different opposition groups were held in Tunis with a heavy police presence.

Demonstrators chanted “the people want what you don’t want. Down with Saied,” at the main demonstration, organised by Tunisia’s biggest opposition force the National Salvation Front (FSN), which includes Saied’s nemesis the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party.

A lady, identified as Nouha at the main protest, referring to Saied’s reign as coup, said “the coup has brought us famine and poverty. Yesterday the grocer gave me just one kilo of macaroni and a can of milk,”

“How can I feed my family of 13 people with that?” the 50-year-old housewife lamented.

In another march on Saturday, attended by hundreds of people, was led by Abir Moussi of the anti-Islamist opposition Free Destourian Party.

“Saied’s regime” is responsible for the economic crisis, Moussi told the crowd, calling for his resignation.

President Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament, and seized a string of powers in July 2021. In December of the same year, he announced in a speech on national television a three-month “popular consultation” with the Tunisian people.

Last month, parliamentary elections were held in Tunisia but the turnout was low as most political parties boycotted, and denounced the exercise. The opposition believed that the election is a culmination of President Kais Saied’s march to one-man rule.

Related Topics:Featured President Kais Saied Tunisia

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.