Stories from Tunis · Tunisia

A parliamentary commission has reported that 164 hotels in Tunisia are currently closed. The commission cited governance failures as a primary cause for the decline in the tourism sector.

Three youths were arrested following a fatal assault on Sunday evening in the El Halfouine area of Tunis. The victim was reportedly passing by the scene of a dispute between the three individuals when they attacked him with extreme violence.

A underground water reservoir spanning over one million square kilometers contains approximately 40 trillion cubic meters of water. The aquifer covers 700,000 square kilometers in Algeria, 80,000 square kilometers in Tunisia, and 250,000 square kilometers in Libya.

The sentencing follows an investigation into insurance fraud within the railway company. A Tunisian court issued a five-year prison sentence to businessman Mehdi Ben Gharbia. The ruling follows a case involving the embezzlement of more than 48 million dinars from a banking institution. Civil society members and journalists held a solidarity protest in front of the court during the proceedings.

Tunisia recorded more than 21,000 new vehicle sales through the end of March 2026. The report notes questions regarding consumer behavior in relation to the automotive market. The report indicates this remains an indicator of Tunisian purchasing power despite market competition.

The Tunisian state utility faces a financial deficit of approximately 1,000 billion units. The state is reportedly required to alleviate the financial burden on the strategic institution. Tunisia is experiencing a decline in both oil and gas production levels. The country currently imports more than half of its gas requirements from Algeria. Officials noted that existing domestic fields are insufficient to meet national needs. The country is also facing challenges with the production of livestock and dairy systems. The source noted that these systems have been under pressure for several years. The situation involves difficulties in importing essential goods like wheat, sugar, and coffee using hard currency. Tunisia's central bank reported a budget deficit of 1,920 million dinars.

The Tunisian Ministry of Health is expanding its HPV vaccination campaign to include girls aged 9 to 14 years. The vaccine is being provided entirely free of charge at designated primary health centers.

Tunisia has initiated a contract for 30 new metro carriages to upgrade its local transport infrastructure. The project includes implementing an integrated maintenance system involving infrastructure, spare parts, and human resources. The source noted that the maintenance system is a key focus for the transport company and the Ministry of Transport. The initiative aims to improve the national transport system through these upgrades. The cost for the new carriages is estimated to be around 4 million Tunisian dinars. Tunisia is planning to acquire new metro and train carriages as part of a new strategy. The current metro system utilizes a strategy of using two carriages per train. Two metro carriages have been utilized, according to the report. The acquisition is estimated to cost approximately 400 million dinars.

Club Africain has become the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League. The club achieved this after securing three consecutive victories, the most recent being a 3-0 win against Kinshasa Zalivari last night.

The Tunisian government council met at the Kasbah government palace to consider regulatory texts regarding wage and salary increases. The announcement was made by Hafedh Amouri on Thursday. For specific categories such as grades 1 and 2, monthly allowances will be adjusted. The minimum guaranteed wage for non-agricultural professions for a 48-hour work week is set at 544.736 dinars, while the 47-hour week minimum is 470.251 dinars. Implementation of these raises will occur gradually between 2025 and 2028. In non-agricultural sectors, wages will rise from 26 dinars to 524 dinars, 763 millimes, and 36 halala depending on the specific professional system. These changes are set to take effect within two months. Private allowances will increase by between 90 and 120 dinars per month. Additionally, the judiciary allowance will increase by 120 dinars.