The presidential campaign season in Tunisia is officially underway a day after protests

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The official start of the presidential campaign season in Tunisia began on Saturday, a day after Tunisians took their anger to the streets of the capital to decry what protesters say is the deteriorating state of the country. In what appeared to be the largest...

Tunisian authorities escalate pre-election crackdown and arrest Islamists en masse

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Dozens of members of Tunisia’s largest opposition party were arrested this week ahead of the formal start of campaign season for the country’s presidential election, attorneys and officials from the party said Friday. Ennahda, the Islamist party that rose...

Authorities in Tunisia have arrested at least 80 members of the largest opposition party this week, party officials say

Rejected poll monitors accuse Tunisia's election authorities of bias

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Election officials in Tunisia doubled down Monday on their decision to deny accreditation to some election observer groups who say the move shows the October presidential contest in the North African country won't be free and fair. The Independent High...

UN rights chief urges voters to beware 'strongman' politicians who 'throw glitter in our eyes'

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights chief on Monday urged voters to be wary of “strongman” politicians and personalities "that throw glitter in our eyes” as more elections loom in a busy electoral calendar this year. Volker Türk didn't mention leaders or countries by name,...

Tunisia's electoral authority approves just 2 candidates to challenge Saied. 1 has been detained

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia’s electoral authority on Monday definitively approved just two candidates to challenge President Kais Saied in elections next month in the struggling North African country — and one of them was promptly arrested. Businessman candidate Ayachi Zammel...

Fifth successive gold for Tunisian shot-putter at Paralympics and US wins first gold

PARIS (AP) — Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili won her fifth consecutive gold medal in shot put at her fifth Paralympics on Friday while the United States captured its first gold. Tlili's throw of 10.40 meters at the Stade de France was good enough to win the F41 class for a third straight...

Tunisia's president reshuffles Cabinet ahead of October election

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia's President Kais Saied has sacked several members of his Cabinet this week, replacing his defense and foreign ministers as campaigning kicks off for the country's October presidential election. Three years since Saied rewrote Tunisia's constitution...

Tunisia's president replaces prime minister in the latest shakeup ahead of presidential election

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia's president has sacked the country's prime minister and replaced him with another Cabinet member, the latest shakeup in the North African country ahead of the October presidential election. President Kais Saied announced late Wednesday in a brief...

Tunisian opposition figure Moussi is sentenced to prison amid crackdown ahead of October election

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — A potential presidential candidate in Tunisia has been sentenced to two years in prison, marking another setback to the country’s fledgling opposition challenging President Kais Saied as he seeks a new term. Abir Moussi, a 49-year-old lawyer and the head of...