Photo Credit: Reuters
Reuters reported that Commander of the U.S. Africa Command David M. Rodriguez held talks with Tunisia’s Prime Minister Ali Larayedh on security cooperation, notably to stem arms trafficking. Larayedh’s office told Reuters the meeting, “was an opportunity to discuss the security issue, ways of cooperating and how the United States can support Tunisia, in terms of equipment and training.”
Commander Rodriguez said “It is our duty to stand alongside Tunisia in this critical stage,” and that ”Tunisia has a great responsibility in this historical period and must ensure the success of democratic transition,” according to Tunisia Press Agency. The article also noted that Rodriguez “stressed his country’s commitment to supporting Tunisia’s efforts in combating terrorism, through equipment, staff training and assistance in its effort of border control and fight against smuggling, including smuggling of weapons.” The meeting was attended by the Minister of the National Defence Rachid Sabbagh and the U.S. Ambassador in Tunis Jacob Walles.
Meanwhile, Asharq al-Aswat reported that Tunisian opposition parties have renewed their calls for Ali Laarayedh’s government to resign and withdraw amendments recently introduced to the Constituent Assembly. According to the report, the opposition will refuse to return to the national dialogue until Ennahda has acquiesced to these demands. Boubakr Bin Amar, a Tunisian talk show host and broadcast journalist argues that Ennahda may prove unwilling to make the necessary concessions to resolve the country’s political crisis. He concludes, “Even if the talks were to resume and the parties involved succeed in nominating a new prime minister, the president could refuse to appoint the nominee. The constituent assembly could refuse to recognize the new government. And the government’s promise to resign will not be fulfilled unless the dialogue is completed.”
In other news, Asma Ghribi writes in Foreign Policy that Tunisia lacks a “human rights culture” and condones police violence. She highlights the recent death of Wallid Denguir, who recently died in a police station after being detained for drug dealing charges. The article quotes Bassem Bouguerra, founder of a Tunisian civil society association called Reform, who argues Tunisians “don’t care when they don’t identify with the victim of torture…They don’t realize that they could be next.”