A Tunisian court has handed down lengthy prison terms to 21 high-profile politicians and former officials, drawing international attention and fueling criticism that President Kais Saied is weaponizing the judiciary to silence dissent.
The court’s decision marks one of the most sweeping crackdowns in the country’s post-revolution era. The sentences range from 12 to 35 years, targeting prominent opposition voices, including Rached Ghannouchi, former speaker of parliament and leader of the Ennahda party.
Ten of the accused are currently in detention, while eleven are believed to have fled Tunisia. The charges include incitement to violence, plotting to overthrow the government, and involvement with organizations allegedly tied to terrorist activities both within and outside Tunisia.
Ghannouchi’s legal team denounced the ruling, declaring: “All accusations were based on a false and contradictory testimony by a secret, anonymous witness who failed to present any evidence for his baseless and contradictory allegations, and who ultimately retracted most of them.”
The 84-year-old Ghannouchi, who has been behind bars since 2023, was sentenced to 14 years in this trial, adding to previous convictions that now total 27 years. He has refused to appear in court, asserting that “the judicial system is heavily controlled by the government.”
Former Top Officials Receive Heavy Sentences
Among those sentenced in absentia were Kamel Guizani, former intelligence chief; Rafik Abdessalem, ex-foreign minister and Ghannouchi’s son-in-law; and Mouadh Ghannouchi, his son. Each was given 35 years. According to local media outlet Mosaique FM, Nadia Akacha, the former chief of staff to President Saied, was also sentenced in the same case.
These developments come as critics accuse Saied of orchestrating a campaign against political rivals under the guise of combating corruption. After dissolving parliament in 2021 and taking on expanded powers, the president has increasingly used security forces and the courts to sideline opposition leaders, media figures, and activists.
In April, a separate round of mass sentencing saw businesspeople, attorneys, and politicians receive punishments of up to 66 years.
Activists say these actions are undermining the democratic gains Tunisia achieved after the 2011 Arab Spring. They argue that the country’s transition is being reversed under an authoritarian agenda. Saied, however, insists the measures are necessary to “end the corruption among the elite.”
Economic Troubles Add Pressure To Political Landscape
Tunisia’s mounting political tension is compounded by deep-rooted economic instability. Growth in 2023 stagnated at just 0.4%, one of the weakest rates in over a decade, excluding pandemic years. Forecasts suggest a slight rebound to 1.9% in 2025, largely dependent on agriculture, tourism, and rainfall.
Unemployment remains a pressing concern, especially among the youth, with joblessness at 16.4% nationally and nearly 41% among young Tunisians. Inflation, although cooling to 5.6% in early 2025, continues to bite, with food prices climbing 7.3% amid supply disruptions.
Fiscal constraints are also weighing on recovery. The budget deficit slightly improved to 5.8% of GDP in 2024, but high public debt and surging energy import costs have widened the trade imbalance. The government’s dependence on domestic borrowing further limits private sector investment and heightens inflationary risks.
Moreover, failure to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has dampened investor confidence, with Tunisia’s political instability deterring foreign support. Analysts caution that without urgent reforms, the country faces potential economic collapse or a major social uprising.
Tunisia’s fragile economic future and volatile political climate leave little room for error. Experts stress the need for a balanced recovery strategy that pairs economic discipline with political inclusion and governance reforms.
