North Africa and the Sahel

The crisis began late on Sunday when president Saïed invoked the constitution to dismiss the prime minister, Hichem Mechichi, suspend parliament for 30 days, and remove immunity from members of parliament, saying he would govern alongside a new premier.

Tunisia is in deep political crisis after the president dismissed the prime minister and suspended parliament in a move his opponents are describing as a coup. President Kais Saied said he would assume executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister, in the biggest challenge yet to the democratic system Tunisia introduced following the 2011 revolution. The crisis also poses a challenge to the European Union which has previously strongly backed Tunisia's transition to democracy and its reform process.

Tunisia is witnessing a quickly deteriorating health situation as Covid-19 cases reach an all-time high with public hospitals struggling to cope. The Delta variant is to blame along with poor vaccination performance.  With only 7 per cent of the country’s population fully vaccinated, the virus exasperates the already tense political and economic situation.  

After eight years of massive engagement and 50 deaths in combat, the French presence in the Sahel is about to change form. The European task force Takuba is expected to carry out most counter-terrorist missions in the region in the near future.