News / North Africa

Tunisia warns foreign diplomats not to 'interfere'

Wednesday, 01 March 2023 2:20 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 01 March 2023 2:43 AM ]

Tunisian demonstrators raise flags and protest placards as they take to the streets of the capital Tunis on January 14, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

Tunisia's foreign ministry has warned foreign diplomats against, what it calls, meddling in the North African country's affairs.

The foreign ministry issued the warning on Tuesday in a statement after reports that arrested political figures had contacted Western diplomats.

The ministry alleged that Tunisia "is keen to facilitate the mission and the contacts of the accredited diplomatic representations."

It, however, cautioned diplomats to respect "the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations clearly stipulating that diplomats shall respect the laws of the country to which they are accredited and not interfere in its internal affairs."

The arrestees, who are at least 20 in number, include many well-known anti-government figures such as senior opposition figures Jawhar Ben Mbarek and a senior former member of the Muslim Ennahdha Party.

They also feature a journalist, two judges, a senior official from Tunisia's powerful UGTT trade union, and businessman Kamel Eltaief, the head of Tunisia's most popular radio station Mosaique FM.

Critics have warned that the arrests may be linked to the government's efforts to stifle dissent. The United Nations Human Rights Office has also called for the detainees' immediate release.

The country has been hosting thousands-strong protests against the apprehensions and other policies of the government of President Kais Saied.

Tunisians hold thousands-strong nationwide rallies in protest at President Saied's policies

Tens of thousands of Tunisians rally throughout the country in protest at President Kais Saied

Saied, a former law professor, was elected in 2019 amid public anger against the political class.

On July 25, 2021, he launched a power grab, sacking the government, freezing the country's parliament, and seizing wide-ranging powers.

He later gave himself powers to rule and legislate by decree and seized control over the judiciary, in what rivals saw as, further blows to democracy in the birthplace of the 2011 popular uprisings.

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