Tunisia

Downtown Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.
Interview with Wided Bouchamaoui

Her family’s economic empire profited from Ben Ali’s policies. Then the Arab Spring came and Wided Bouchamaoui wanted to be on the right side of history. A discussion about whether and how Tunisia’s down-for-the-count economy can be saved. 

Jamel Mouhalib stands on his boat in the old port of Bizerte.
Difficult Times for Fishermen in Tunisia

Artisan fishermen in Tunisia are finding it ever harder to bring in a catch, with pressure from factory fishing vessels and pollution.

A man examines wares in the souk in Tunis' old city.
Corruption in the Spotlight in Tunisia

A businessman’s attempts to smear an NGO brings corruption into focus for Tunisa, where corruption remains a perennial problem.

The Carthage Byrsa School in Tunis.
Post-Revolution Reform in Tunisia

In a country of social unrest, high youth unemployment and ever-present terrorist threats, improving its education system should be the priority for Tunisia. But education reform hit a rocky patch under the rule of an inconstant minister.

The entrance to the Layali Beirut club in Tunis.
Libyan Politics in a Nightclub in Tunis

In a nightclub in Tunis, a strange ritual is carried out where Libyans toss money to a singer, to sing the praises of their towns. It seems peace can be found at the cabaret – for a while.

The Ministry of Interior in downtown Tunis.
Interview with I Watch Founder Achref Aoudi

A leaked recording from a Tunisian business magnate revealed plans to smear I Watch, an anti-corruption NGO. Apart from bringing corruption into the public eye, it also emboldened I Watch, says its founder Achref Aoudi

Boats tied up in Zarzis
Tribes In Tunisia

Long neglected by the country’s rulers, tribes in southern Tunisia have been both enriched and altered by changes in trade flows and smuggling across the Libyan border.

The NGO Watching Tunisian Politics

Watchdog al-Bawsala is a rare example of an NGO operating to bring transparency to political processes and engage ordinary citizens in a region wracked by government crackdowns.