Deadlock within executive branch persisted, while rights groups denounced police repression. Parliament speaker and Islamist-inspired An-Nahda party leader Rached Ghannouchi 10 March joined calls for new national dialogue to address political crisis and recurrent disputes over constitution; move comes amid President Saïed’s refusal to swear in PM Mechichi’s new cabinet since Jan. Main trade union and political powerbroker UGTT, which has spearheaded calls for national dialogue, 26 March said Saïed had committed to participating in UGTT’s national dialogue. Meanwhile, MP Hassouna Nasfi, leader of parliamentary coalition La Réforme, same day said he had collected 104 of 109 signatures needed to hold vote of no confidence against Ghannouchi. Hundreds 6 March protested in capital Tunis to demand release of LGBTQI+ activist Rania Amdouni, after Tunis court 4 March sentenced her to six months in prison on charges of “insulting police”. In joint statement, dozens of human rights organisations and political parties in Tunisia and abroad – including France’s Human Rights League and Tunisian Organisation Against Torture – 16 March called for her immediate release, said 2,000 civil society activists were currently imprisoned and denounced “police and judicial downward slide”. Appeals court next day released Amdouni. President of secular Free Destourian Party and MP Abir Moussi along with dozens of supporters 9 March stormed Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) office in Tunis, accusing association of terrorism and demanding it be dissolved; Moussi had for weeks organised sit-in protest demanding IUMS dissolution outside organisation’s offices in Tunis and country’s second largest city Sfax. Police 30 March fired tear gas on protesters after hundreds tried to storm govt building in southern city of Tataouine to protest govt’s failure to provide jobs. In first presidential visit to neighbouring Libya since 2012, Saïed 17 March met newly sworn-in Libyan PM Abdelhamid Dabaiba and Presidency Council Chairperson Mohamed al-Menfi in Libyan capital Tripoli to discuss bilateral relations and trade.

Amid socio-economic crisis, political standstill continued, while protesters took to street in capital Tunis to demand compromise and denounce police brutality. Amid deepening constitutional crisis, President Saïed 3 Feb reiterated refusal to swear in 11 ministers whom PM Hichem Mechichi appointed in Jan, citing breach of constitution over alleged lack of deliberation prior to cabinet reshuffle; in attempt to circumvent Saïed, Mechichi 15 Feb appointed outgoing ministers as interim heads of vacant portfolios. Islamist-inspired An-Nahda party, which is part of Mechichi’s coalition govt and largest group in parliament, 27 Feb gathered some 20,000 supporters in Tunis to call on Saïed to compromise. Following countrywide demonstrations over deteriorating socio-economic crisis in Jan, NGO Human Rights Watch 5 Feb said police had used “violent tactics to quash protests” and called on authorities to investigate death of protester. Thousands next day took to streets in Tunis to denounce police violence; march coincided with eighth anniversary of politician and human rights defender Chokri Belaïd’s assassination. Amid delays in implementation of Nov agreement between govt and activists from oil-rich Kamour area in south, who demand redistribution of hydrocarbon wealth, army 11 Feb prevented protesters from closing valve of Kamour oil pumping station; protesters 24 Feb staged general strike across Tataouine governorate. Court 24 Feb released on bail media mogul and Qalb Tounes party leader Nabil Karoui, arrested in Dec on charges of money laundering and tax evasion. Explosive device 3 Feb killed four soldiers during counter-terrorism operation in Mount Mghila area (centre west) near Algerian border.

Amid deteriorating socio-economic crisis, riots and protests erupted across country, leaving at least one dead. After govt 14 Jan implemented new COVID-19-related nationwide lockdown, street riots overnight 15-16 Jan erupted in capital Tunis and over 15 other locations across country, mainly in underprivileged peri-urban areas; discontent fueled mainly by deteriorating economic and social conditions exactly ten years after former President Ben Ali’s overthrow. During five consecutive nights of unrest, police clashed with rioters, fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse them amid sporadic reports of vandalism and looting; protester injured in 18 Jan clashes, reportedly by tear gas canister, died 25 Jan. Govt 18 Jan said police had arrested over 600 people, sparking several days of daytime peaceful protests in Tunis and other cities against govt, economic crisis and arbitrary arrests. Tunisian Human Rights League 25 Jan said over 1,200 people had been arrested since unrest started. Riots subsided while daytime protests were still ongoing by month’s end. Amid tensions between President Saïed and PM Hichem Mechichi, Mechichi 5 Jan dismissed Saïed’s close ally, Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine, and 16 Jan reshuffled cabinet, naming 11 new ministers. In response, Saïed 25 Jan said he will not organise oath-taking ceremonies for new ministers, saying some are suspected of corruption or may have conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, parliament next day approved Mechichi’s cabinet reshuffle as police turned water cannon on hundreds of anti-govt protesters to hold them back from parliament. Authorities 27-28 Jan said letter addressed to Saïed and received 25 Jan contained suspicious powder that caused staffer who opened it to be hospitalised, denounced possible poisoning attempt. Authorities 8 Jan said they had arrested five individuals suspected of planning to carry out “terrorist operations in Tunisia”, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb senior figure.

Upsurge in political tensions marked tenth anniversary of popular uprising which toppled former President Ben Ali. Dispute between centre-left Democratic Trend (DT) and populist Karama coalition MPs 7 Dec escalated into brawl in parliament, leaving one DT deputy wounded; violence reportedly erupted after DT MPs accused Karama deputy of making misogynistic comment and called for investigation. Five major parties in parliament same day called for parliamentary immunity to be lifted to allow prosecution of Karama MPs involved in violence. DT leader Mohamed Abbou 9 Dec called for dissolution of parliament and urged President Saïed to deploy army to protect strategic sites to avoid “state collapse”. MP from second largest parliamentary group Qalb Tounes 10 Dec accused those who “try to dissolve parliament” of “coup d’Etat”. Main trade union and political powerbroker UGTT 15 Dec called for national dialogue to prevent deepening of political, social and economic crisis; following meeting with UGTT, Saïed 30 Dec committed to launch national dialogue in coming weeks “to correct the revolution that has deviated from its goals.” Parliament Speaker and Islamist-inspired An-Nahda party leader Rached Ghannouchi next day declared support for UGTT initiative. Authorities 24 Dec arrested Qalb Tounes leader Nabil Karoui on charges of money laundering and tax evasion. On tenth anniversary of beginning of popular uprising against Ben Ali, protesters disillusioned with political class 17 Dec gathered outside parliament in capital Tunis to ask for assembly’s dissolution. Security forces 17 Dec dispersed sit-in of families of those killed and wounded during 2010-2011 uprising at govt square in Tunis. Military same day fired warning shots to disperse protesters asking for jobs and local development as they were blockading trans-Tunisian gas pipeline facilities in Awlad Marzoug town, Kasserine province (centre). Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated militants 20 Dec kidnapped and beheaded shepherd in Jebel Salloum area, Kasserine province near Algerian border.

Oil production resumed in Kamour area in south, ending four-month blockade. Govt and protesters – who blockaded oil and gas fields in southern Kamour area in July to protest against lack of redistribution of hydrocarbon wealth – 6 Nov reached agreement on reopening of oil and gas pumping station in exchange for employment opportunities and regional development; oil production resumed next day. Favourable terms of agreement fuelled calls for similar measures in other regions including Gabès, Gafsa, Kairouan, Kasserine and Tozeur. Notably, workers’ union in Kairouan 21 Nov called for general strike 3 Dec. Court of Auditors 10 Nov said Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda and media mogul Nabil Karoui’s liberal Heart of Tunisia party, both pillars of current parliamentary coalition, violated electoral law in 2019 by signing contracts with foreign communication agencies and paying these services through non-declared bank accounts; in joint statement, several civil society organisations 14 Nov called for legal action.

Violent protests erupted in centre, and political tensions persisted. Dozens of residents 13 Oct clashed with police in town of Sbeïtla, Kasserine province in centre as they protested death of man previous night during destruction by local authorities of informal newspaper kiosk where he was sleeping; protesters reportedly broke into several govt buildings, erected roadblocks and threw stones at police who attempted to disperse them; PM Mechichi same day dismissed governor of Kasserine province and several other local officials and deployed military personnel to town, while authorities arrested head of municipal police. In capital Tunis, dozens 8 Oct demonstrated against draft security law, saying it would give security forces virtual impunity and might lead to increased police brutality. At govt’s request, parliament 12 Oct suspended discussion on draft law. Following President Saïed’s criticism in late Sept of PM Mechichi for appointing as advisers two close collaborators of former President Ben Ali, tensions between two leaders remained high. Notably, Mechichi 5 Oct dismissed Cultural Affairs Minister Walid Zidi after he criticised new COVID-19 restrictions; during formation of govt in Aug, Saïed had stepped in to support Zidi’s appointment. After authorities early Oct implemented night curfews in several regions amid rise in COVID-19 infections, govt 28 Oct announced nationwide night curfew, ban on inter-regional movement and school closure.

Parliament approved new govt, while Islamic State (ISIS) launched deadly attack on security forces. Parliament 2 Sept approved PM-designate Hichem Mechichi’s technocratic govt with 134 votes out of 217; move followed weeks of power struggle between President Saïed and major parties in parliament after Saïed late July tasked Mechichi with forming new technocratic govt, disregarding balance of forces in parliament; Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda, largest group in parliament, eventually backed Mechichi citing country’s “difficult situation”. Three suspected jihadists 6 Sept attacked national guard checkpoint in Akouda town near Sousse city, killing one officer and wounding another; security forces subsequently killed all three and arrested dozens suspected of involvement; ISIS next day claimed responsibility for jihadist attack.

Political crisis continued amid intensifying polarisation between Islamists and anti-Islamists. After PM-designate Hichem Mechichi 10 Aug said he would form cabinet composed of “independent expertise”, Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda, largest group in parliament, immediately rejected idea and reiterated call for “political” govt reflecting balance of forces in parliament. However, Mechichi night of 24-25 Aug announced technocratic govt, citing need to “focus on the economic and social situation”; parliament 25 Aug said it would hold confidence vote 1 Sept. Prominent business association UTICA 18 Aug called for economic emergency law to “preserve the economic sovereignty” as economic situation continued to deteriorate amid COVID-19 pandemic, with economy shrinking by 21.6% in second quarter of 2020 compared to same period last year and unemployment rate reaching 18% by mid-Aug.

Political crisis peaked with collapse of govt following weeks of tensions between PM Fakhfakh and Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda. National anti-corruption authority 13 July submitted report on PM Fakhfakh’s revenues to national judiciary and Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi over allegations of conflict of interest. Group of 105 MPs led by Ghannouchi’s An-Nahda (member of ruling coalition) 15 July tabled no-confidence motion against Fakhfakh’s govt, prompting him to resign same day. Fakhfakh, who remained head of caretaker govt until new one is formed, next day reshuffled cabinet and dismissed all An-Nahda ministers, also pledged to review appointments made by An-Nahda in central and local govt. President Saïed 25 July designated Interior Minister Hichem Mechichi as new PM and tasked him with forming new govt by 25 Aug. Group of 89 MPs led by Abir Moussi’s Free Destourian Party 16 July tabled no-confidence motion against Parliament Speaker Ghannouchi; in parliamentary session 30 July, motion fell short of 109-vote majority with 97 MPs voting against Ghannouchi. In south, several strikes and sit-ins brought production of phosphates to near halt. Notably, demonstrators asking for jobs in energy and related companies 16 July closed pipeline in Kamour area.

Political tensions, fuelled notably by ongoing conflict in Libya, continued within ruling coalition. Parliament 3 June held plenary session on allegations that parliamentary speaker Rached Ghannouchi, president of Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda (member of ruling coalition), undermines Tunisian neutrality in Libya’s conflict; allegations fuelled by Ghannouchi’s May phone call with Libya’s Turkey-backed PM Serraj and his continued good relationship with Turkish President Erdoğan. During session, opposition Free Destourian Party tabled motion to refuse any military intervention in Libya; motion was rejected but gathered support from ruling coalition members Long Live Tunisia and Movement of the People. In 8 June interview, Ghannouchi called for cabinet reshuffle to remove both parties from ruling coalition. Following weeks of peaceful demonstrations over dire economic situation in southern city of Tataouine, hundreds of protesters 21-22 June threw stones at police and blocked roads there to demand jobs and release of local protest movement figure Tarek Haddad, arrested 20 June; police fired tear gas while authorities deployed army outside state institutions.