Egypt declares full support for Tunisian president

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, pledged his country’s “unconditional support” for Tunisian President Kais Saied, who has suspended parliament, fired the prime minister, and seized executive control.

“We affirm the full support of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the stability and the fulfullment of the will of the Tunisian people,” Shoukry said after meeting Saied in Tunis.

On July 25, Saied used the constitution to assume executive power, a move described as a “coup” by his primary opponents, the Ennahdha party.

Tunisia is still waiting for the nomination of a new prime minister after nine days. 

Tunisia is going through “a historic period, led by a person who values democracy, the constitution, and institutions above all else,” according to Shoukry. 

Saied traveled to Cairo in late 2020 to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed an elected Islamist government in 2013 and has since led an assault on the opposition, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, which is now banned. 

The US urged Tunisia to return to the “democratic path” as soon as possible on Saturday.

With a population of roughly 12 million people, the nascent democracy was frequently regarded as the only success story of the 2011 Arab Spring.

However, a decade later, many people say they have witnessed no change in living standards and are irritated by Tunisia’s long-running political impasse and elite infighting.

 

Educator, writer and legal researcher at Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy.

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