President Essebsi died 25 July bringing forward presidential elections due later in year to Sept, and Islamist militancy continued to threaten security. Following “severe health crisis” in June, Essebsi was discharged from hospital 1 July in “normal health”, but readmitted 24 July and died next day, aged 92, of repetitive faintness. Same day Parliament Speaker Mohamed Ennaceur sworn in as interim president, to hold post for no longer than 90 days; first round of presidential election planned for 15 Sept. Legislative elections to be held 6 Oct. Essebsi 20 July had refused to ratify electoral law amendments that parliament passed in June that would have imposed tougher eligibility criteria for presidential candidates and which would have barred presidential front-runner businessman Nabil Karoui. Prosecutor 9 July charged Karoui with money laundering, and imposed on him asset freeze and travel ban. Govt 4 July said death toll from 27 June attacks in capital Tunis claimed by Islamic State (ISIS) had risen to two. Police in Tunis 2 July surrounded Islamist militant and alleged mastermind of June attacks, who detonated his suicide vest, killing himself but no others. Citing security concerns, PM Chahed 5 July banned women from wearing full face veil in public institutions. ISIS 17 July released video allegedly filmed in Tunisia calling for militants to carry out attacks.

Ahead of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for late 2019, tensions heightened as ruling majority tried to bar potential candidates, President Essebsi suffered “health crisis” and two suicide bombings rocked capital Tunis. Parliament 18 June voted through amendments to 2014 electoral law so that new law, if implemented, would render three would-be presidential candidates opposed to ruling coalition ineligible: philanthropist Olfa Terras Rambourg, owner of private TV channel Nabil Karoui and former official of former President Ben Ali’s party Abir Moussi. Amendments set conditions for candidacy, ruling out citizens who received “unfair political publicity” or distributed “aid to the population” during year preceding election or have record of human rights violations. Pro-govt media welcomed vote as victory against political corruption. But more than 40 MPs 20 June reportedly signed petition against amendment. Several jurists said this move could delay elections, notably if Essebsi refuses to sign new law. Armed group early 27 June shot at broadcasting station at Mount Orbata in Gafsa in centre. Hours later jihadists carried out two suicide bomb attacks in capital Tunis, killing one police and injuring four people; Islamic State (ISIS) claimed both. Same day, Essebsi, 92, suffered “severe health crisis” and was hospitalised in Tunis; health reportedly improving end-month.

Ahead of legislative elections in Oct and presidential in Nov political alliances continued to shift and debates intensified. Several politicians joined PM Chahed’s new party Tayha Tounes, including former ministers Lassâad Zarrouk and Afif Chelbi early May, and al-Moubadara party leader Kamel Morjane 22 May. Several public figures gained prominence as potential presidential candidates; in opinion poll released early May, law professor Kaïs Saïed won most votes with 22.4%, owner of private TV channel Nabil Karoui came second with 21.8%; former official of former President Ben Ali’s party Abir Moussi came third with 12.4%; PM Chahed came fourth with 7.4%. Sec Gen of president’s party Nida Tounes 8 May called for delay of elections to prevent political scene from fragmenting further. Ben Ali mid-May posted first political message since his ouster in 2011, thanking thousands of Tunisians who had sent him “love letters” and encouraging “my people to overcome the difficulties”. Member of UN panel of experts on Libya with dual Tunisian and German nationality Moncef Kartas, charged 10 April with “spying for foreign parties” and jailed despite UN immunity, was released 21 May; Kartas reportedly left Tunisia for Germany next day. National guard 1 May arrested al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)-affiliated militant Raed Touati at Mount Chaambi in west.

Political rivalry between Islamists and anti-Islamists continued ahead of legislative and presidential elections in Oct and Nov, as escalation in neighbouring Libya raised security concerns. Govt 5 April prolonged state of emergency citing persistent threat of terrorism and said it had reinforced military along Libyan border in south east to prevent “terrorist infiltration”. President Essebsi’s Nida Tounes sought to elect central committee and representatives for Nov 2019 legislative elections, but party leadership struggle between head of parliamentary bloc Sofian Toubel and president’s son Hafedh Caïd Essebsi saw each hold their own separate congress 6-7 April; both congresses elected separate central committees. President Essebsi 6 April said he would not stand for re-election in Nov vote. After arresting member of UN panel of experts on Libya 26 March, authorities 10 April charged him with “spying for foreign parties”.

Political manoeuvring continued ahead of elections planned for late 2019. Electoral commission 6 March said legislative elections would take place 6 Oct and first round of presidential election 10 Nov. Several centrist politicians joined PM Chahed’s new political party. Authorities detained UN official tasked with investigating alleged violations of UN arms embargo on Libya in Tunis 26 March on suspicion of spying. UN late March asked Tunisia to free UN official, stressed he had diplomatic immunity.

Political tensions and societal rift between Islamists and anti-Islamists continued to grow, fuelled by struggle between President Essebsi and PM Chahed. Far-left and Arab nationalist coalition Popular Front 4 Feb called for govt’s resignation ahead of late 2019 legislative and presidential elections to ensure transparent poll and accused govt of covering up Islamist party An-Nahda’s alleged involvement in killing of two leftist and Arab nationalist leaders in 2013. An-Nahda President Rached Ghannouchi 17 Feb said Chahed could be forced to resign before elections, signalling that parliament could pass vote of no confidence. Tunis court 6 Feb sentenced in absentia secretary general of Essebsi’s party Nida Tounes, Slim Riahi, to five years in prison for involvement in affair of bouncing cheques. Thousands of teachers 7 Feb demonstrated in capital Tunis to demand bonuses and better working conditions. Public sector union UGTT reached agreement with govt on salary increases 9 Feb, called off general strike planned for 20-21 Feb and ended months-long strikes in secondary schools. Libyan militia demanding release of Libyan in prison in Tunisia on drug-related charges 14 Feb kidnapped fourteen Tunisian oil workers in Zawiya city near Libya’s capital Tripoli; hostages freed 17 Feb in unclear circumstances. EU Commission 13 Feb kept Tunisia on black list of 23 countries highly exposed to money laundering and terrorist financing. Tunis court 9 Feb sentenced seven people to life in prison for 2015 attacks that killed 60 in Tunis and Sousse, sentenced others to six months to sixteen years in prison, and discharged 27; prosecutors said they would appeal.

Struggle between President Essebsi and PM Chahed continued. Feud and Essebsi’s efforts to destabilise Islamist party An-Nahda, which has supported Chahed, paralysed govt and prevented parliament from appointing members of new Constitutional Court. Parliament 30 Jan filled four open positions in electoral commission including president. Support committee of two leftist politicians killed in 2013 and lawyers 10 Jan said magistrate had accused An-Nahda supporter Mustafa Kheder of involvement in killing; they also accused public prosecutor of not fully investigating An-Nahda’s alleged role. About 90% of civil servants took part in general strike organised by public-sector workers union UGTT 17 Jan after pay negotiations with govt failed. UGTT 19 Jan called for new general strike 20-21 Feb. UGTT Secretary General Nourredine Taboubi accused Chahed of being “puppet of the IMF [International Monetary Fund]” and endangering Tunisia’s sovereignty, while Essebsi reportedly courted Taboubi to form “national front” with his party Nida Tounes for late 2019 parliamentary and presidential elections. Chahed 27 Jan created political party Long Live Tunisia with support of Nida Tounes defectors.

As rivalry persisted between President Essebsi and PM Chahed, Essebsi tried to destabilise Islamist party An-Nahda, which has supported Chahed. Essebsi 29 Nov asked National Security Council – which includes PM and defence and interior ministers – to investigate An-Nahda’s alleged involvement in killings of two leftist politicians in 2013. Secretary general of Essebsi’s party Nida Tounes, Slim Riahi, 23 Nov lodged complaint against Chahed, accusing him of preparing coup; however military tribunal 10 Dec refused to hear case in absence of plaintiff. Chahed mid-Dec visited Saudi Arabia, met with King Salman, 15 Dec said Saudi Arabia had pledged financial aid worth about $830mn, including $500mn budget support. Protests erupted in interior. Leftist activists 14 Dec launched movement called gilets rouges, inspired by gilets jaunesprotests in France. Militants allegedly linked to Islamic State (ISIS) affiliate Jund al-Khilafa 14 Dec robbed bank in Sbiba city in west, taking equivalent of $100,000, then killed in his home Khaled Zoghlani, brother of soldier killed in similar circumstances in 2016. Govt 19 Dec said security forces had arrested all eight members of terrorist cell dubbed Jihad and Tawhid Battalion that had allegedly been planning attacks in central Sidi Bouzid province. National Guard 19 Dec reportedly killed Aymen Ben Younes Jendoubi, leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)’s local splinter group Okba Ibn Nafaa brigade, near Sakiet Sidi Youssef, Kef province in north. Leading figure in expat community from Côte d’Ivoire, Falikou Coulibaly, who had spoken out against racist violence, stabbed to death in capital Tunis 23 Dec. After posting online video in which he expressed frustration at economic problems and unfulfilled promises of 2011 revolution and called for revolt, journalist Abderrazak Zorgui set himself on fire and died 24 Dec in Kasserine in centre. Anti-govt protesters sympathetic to Zorgui’s complaints clashed with police for three consecutive nights in Kasserine and other cities; eighteen protesters arrested.

Govt 5 Nov announced cabinet reshuffle despite President Essebsi’s opposition. PM Chahed named ten new ministers, but did not change ministers whose portfolios lie within president’s prerogative such as foreign affairs and defence. Parliament 12 Nov expressed its confidence in new govt; Essebsi’s Nida Tounes party boycotted session. Parliament’s legislative commission 15 Nov accepted principle of increasing electoral threshold (from 3 to 5%) for upcoming legislative elections. Civil servants 22 Nov staged largest general strike in five years reportedly involving hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers. At least 3,000 people gathered outside parliament in capital Tunis, after powerful public-sector workers union UGTT failed to secure raise in wages.

In first major terrorist attack in capital Tunis since 2015, thirty-year-old female suicide bomber 29 Oct blew herself up in centre of capital Tunis, twenty injured including fifteen police officers; by end Oct no group had claimed responsibility. Power struggle between President Essebsi and PM Chahed continued. Businessman and leader of Free Patriotic Union (UPL) party Slim Riahi switched allegiance from Chahed to Essebsi; UPL, previously member of pro-Chahed alliance in parliament, 14 Oct merged with ruling party Nida Tounes, depriving Chahed of simple majority needed to counter potential vote of no-confidence in parliament. Riahi appointed Nida Tounes secretary general 17 Oct. Essebsi’s chief of staff Slim Azzabi resigned 9 Oct, reportedly in part because Essebsi’s 8 Oct statement sealing end of alliance between members of ruling coalition, Nida Tounes and An-Nahda, came from Nida Tounes party, not from presidential office. Prominent Nida Tounes leader Borhen Bsaies arrested 2 Oct for alleged corruption under former President Ben Ali after Tunis court of appeal upheld Feb sentence of two years in prison. Far-left and Arab nationalist coalition Popular Front 2 Oct presented purported evidence of existence of parallel security apparatus in An-Nahda, several An-Nahda leaders denied allegations; in past claims that political groups have parallel security apparatuses have served as pretext for their criminalisation.