Summary:

On 15 October 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a message urging the Tunisian government to ensure the protection of democratic processes and fundamental freedoms. 

Volker Türk expressed his concerns about ongoing legal actions against political figures and former presidential candidates, calling them indicative of a lack of respect for due process and fair trial guarantees. 

He called on Tunisia to renew its commitments to transitional justice, to undertake the necessary reforms to strengthen the rule of law, and to guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. Türk also insisted on the need to release all those individuals considered to be arbitrarily detained. 

A day prior, UN experts said that they received shocking reports about forced deportation and displacement to frontiers by Tunisian security forces. They also raised concerns about physical violence, beatings, threats with firearms, removal of engines and fuel, and capsizing of boats during interactions between Tunisian security forces and migrants. 

They noted that between January and July 2024, 189 people, including children, are estimated to have lost their lives during the crossings, 265 during interception operations at sea, and 95 people are reported missing. Some commentators have raised concerns that those missing could be victims of forced disappearances or similar acts. 

Outlook: 

The statements of the high commissioner and UN experts are a blow to President Saied following his re-election. With no re-election congratulations coming from Western capitals, the UN criticism is a further sign of international skepticism toward the democratic processes in Tunisia.  

Tunisia’s diplomatic endeavors in intergovernmental organizations to defend just causes are likely to be impacted by the recent statements from UN officials. 

However, UN concerns over human rights abuses in Tunisia are unlikely to discourage Western states from cooperating with Tunisia especially in sectors of interest like military assistance, border control and renewable energy.  

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