Tunisia

26 Sep 2021; MEMO: As political tension continues in Tunisia due to the exceptional decisions of President Kais Saied, Ahmed Gaaloul, advisor to the Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament and Executive Director of the Ennahda Movement said that the transitional provisions announced by the country's president represent a "coup and a deviation from legitimacy."

He pointed out that Ennahda is discussing with the political and civil forces in the country the possibility of forming a "civil front" to confront the coup on democracy in the country.

26 Sep 2021; MEMO: About 2,000 demonstrators gathered in Tunis on Sunday under a heavy police presence to protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied's seizure of governing powers in July and called on him to step down, reports Reuters.

TUNIS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - More than 100 prominent officials of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party, including lawmakers and former ministers, resigned on Saturday in protest at the leadership's performance, the biggest blow yet to the party which is facing a severe split.

Ennahda, the largest party in parliament, has been thrown into crisis by its response to President Kais Saied's sacking of the government and suspension of parliament on July 25, an intervention the opposition called a coup.

24 Sep 2021; MEMO: The UN called on Tunisian political parties yesterday to start an inclusive, comprehensive dialogue to resolve the country's issues, Anadolu has reported. This, said a UN spokesman, would be in line with democratic values.

TUNIS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Libya's best chance of peace in years is at risk of unravelling as factions tussle over looming national elections that were envisaged as a way to end a decade of chaotic division.

As a cast of factional leaders position themselves for a presidential run, many Libyans are bracing for a return to violence whether the vote goes ahead as planned on Dec. 24 or not.

23 Sep 2021; MEMO: Tunisia's former President, Moncef Marzouki, has called for the dismissal and prosecution of President Kais Saied before holding presidential and legislative elections. He made his comment during a live Facebook speech on Tuesday.

19 Sep 2021; MEMO: Amid growing opposition to the measures taken by President Kais Saied, five political parties, on Friday, issued a joint statement calling on the army and judiciary to respect the country's constitution and uphold the rule of law.

The signatories said that recent events have confirmed the fears they had expressed immediately after the President announced the state of emergency on 25 July.

17 Sep 2021; MEMO: Tunisia's Ennahda movement said on Thursday that there is no solution to the country's crisis except through a comprehensive national dialogue. It called for the "exceptional measures" taken by President Kais Saied in July to be lifted.

The announcement was signed by Ennahda's chairman, Rashid Ghannouchi, after a meeting of its executive officials.

The measures imposed by Saied include freezing the work of parliament, lifting the immunity of parliamentarians and dismissing Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi.

12 Sep 2021; MEMO: Tunisia's powerful labour union and the biggest party in its parliament on Saturday both signalled their opposition to any attempt by the president to suspend the constitution and offer his own version unilaterally, reported Reuters.

President Kais Saied seized governing powers on July 25, citing an emergency clause in the constitution to dismiss the prime minister and suspend parliament, moves his political critics call a coup.

10 Sep 2021; MEMO: Tunisian President Kais Saied plans to suspend the constitution and may amend the political system via a referendum, one of his advisers told Reuters yesterday in the first clear indication of his plans after moves his critics have called a coup.