Day 26
Tunisia
Tunisia is once again on the path towards autocracy after a decade-long, genuine democracy-building process. The country’s democracy is once again at a dangerous crossroads. After the dissolution of the parliament and the Supreme Judicial Council, President Kais Saied is trying to force the adoption of a new constitution following a highly contested referendum. Although various political parties and forces have sought to challenge the president’s decisions, they are too fragmented to effectively present any real challenge. The Tunisian General Labour Union and the Ennahdha party are only two forces that have some capacity to provide meaningful resistance against Saied’s autocratic regime. Pray for Tunisia that has suffered for long years without dynamic and caring leaders to seek God and receive new democratic leaders (The Bible, Psalm 105:9).
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Tunisia is listed in 26th position in the World Watch report 2021 by Open Doors for Christian persecution. The current President of Tunisia is Kais Saied and the Prime Minister is Najla Bouden Romdhane, the first woman Prime Minister of the country. Modern Tunisians are the descendants of indigenous Berbers and people from numerous civilizations that have invaded or migrated to Tunisia. The Arab Spring enabled the country to have one of the most progressive and open societies in the Arab world. Tunisians felt frustrated by high unemployment, corruption, political oppression, and poor living conditions. Protests led to government changes and inspired similar protests across the whole Arab world. Tunisia’s new constitution is truly progressive, and positive fruit came from the suffering of the Arab Spring. However, unemployment and economic decline remain big challenges to the new government.
