#5 Understanding July 25th and Kais Saied's Measures through a Tunisian Lens

Activism Academy

On July 25th, Republic Day in Tunisia, non-partisan protests erupted in various cities, calling for the dismissal of the government and corrupt political parties that have been stalling progress in parliament and failed to address the COVID-19 crisis adequately. That night, president Kais Saied invoked Article 80 of the Tunisian constitution that allows him to implement exceptional measures “in the event of imminent danger threatening the nation’s institutions or the security or independence of the country, and hampering the normal functioning of the state” quoting the constitution. These exceptional measures included the dismissal of the Head of Government, Hichem Mechichi, the suspension of parliament and lifting immunity off all parliamentary representatives. Many Tunisians took to the streets and celebrated the announcement with song and dance, while others were rather skeptical. We have invited three Tunisians to discuss what happened and how they perceive the events: Belkiss Anane, Heythem Guesmi and Habib Sayah.
Belkiss Anane is a Washington, DC- based Tunisian consultant. Mathematician by training, she holds a minor in MENA studies from Northwestern University and has pursued African Studies at the African Leadership Academy. Belkis has been active with several NGOs in the U.S. and Tunisia, largely focusing on the Arab region and specifically on women empowerment and Palestinian affairs.

Heythem Guesmi is a 30-year-old researcher in rural politics and peasants struggles. He belongs to the "Youth of the Revolution", is interested in the history of transitions and the establishment of cultural hegemony.

Habib Sayah is a Tunisia-based consultant and researcher. His recent work has focused on security sector reform as well as the effects of disinformation and propaganda on social cohesion, community resilience, and polarisation. He holds a Master’s degree from the War Studies department at King’s College London.