Category: Editorial

Tunisia today celebrates the 62nd anniversary of Evacuation Day the date in 1963 when the last French soldier left the naval base at Bizerte. The anniversary was hard-won; it was the bitter fruit of a decades-long struggle, the last page in a national liberation struggle initiated early in the 20th century, came to the dawn of independence in 1956, and was only finally achieved seven years later. The Bizerte saga is a story of stubborn determination. It started with the July 1961 armed conflict, when a national army, complemented by…

Tunisia stands at a pivotal crossroads, where a cherished tradition holds the key to a more prosperous economic future. With over 80 million olive trees blanketing 1.8 million hectares, the nation possesses the world’s largest olive grove area after Spain. This “green gold” is a vital national asset, contributing up to 40% of agricultural exports and 10% of all export revenues. Yet, this impressive footprint tells only half the story. The full potential of this sector remains locked, and the time to unlock it is now. The central challenge, and…

The recently published conclusions of Tunisia’s 2024 census confirm what has been quietly unfolding for years: the nation is in the throes of a profound demographic revolution. With a record 17% of its population now over 60 and both marriage and birth rates in historic freefall, Tunisia is aging at an unprecedented pace. This is not a minor statistical blip but a deep structural mutation that demands a national conversation far more nuanced than simply urging citizens to have more babies. The figures are stark. The number of newborns has…

Tunisia’s coastline, the very jewel of its tourism and a pillar of its economy, is under silent assault. The waves that lap its famous beaches are not just a source of beauty and recreation; they are now agents of a slow-motion crisis. As a recent World Bank report confirms, the country stands among the most affected in the world by marine erosion, a creeping threat that jeopardizes our natural heritage, our infrastructure, and our future. The numbers are stark and should serve as a wake-up call to the nation. With…

The recent, decisive operations by Tunisian authorities against wholesale traders and intermediaries accused of speculation and price manipulation are more than just a routine law enforcement activity. They represent a critical and necessary battle in the ongoing war to protect the purchasing power of every Tunisian citizen. This past Friday, a coordinated effort led by the judicial police, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and municipal services, resulted in the arrest of over twenty major players across key markets from Bir El Kassâa to Sfax. This action, part of…

The numbers tell a story of a nation increasingly divided along educational lines. This year, the Ministry of Education authorized 811 private primary schools, a rise of 37 from the year before. This is not merely a statistic; it is a stark indicator of a growing exodus and a two-tiered system taking root in our country. The undeniable expansion of private education highlights a profound and worrying retreat of the public school, once the great equalizer and bedrock of the republic. A glance at the geographic distribution of these new…

As nearly two million Tunisian students prepare to return to school, the issue of digital security within educational institutions has never been more critical. The ongoing digitization of education and the proliferation of connected devices have made schools and pupils prime targets for cybercriminals. The key cybersecurity statistics for Tunisia in 2024 paint a stark picture: 23 million threats detected, a 140% increase in ransomware attacks in just one year, and an average of 1,308 attacks per week—a 28% rise since the end of 2023. These figures point to a…

The numbers are undeniably impressive. As of late July, over 5.3 million tourists have chosen Tunisia for their holidays, not only surpassing last year’s figures but soaring 16% above pre-pandemic benchmarks. With tourism revenues climbing to nearly TND 4 billion and hotel occupancy on the rise, the sector is on track to smash records, potentially welcoming 11 million visitors by the end of 2025. This is more than just a recovery; it is a resounding vote of confidence. After years of struggle, Tunisia is firmly back on the map as…