Tunisia President draws out state of emergency until end of 2022
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Tunisian President Kais Saied issues a presidential decree as per which he extended the state of emergency in the country from February 19 until December 31, 2022.
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Tunisian President Kais Saied in Lusail University, Qatar, on November 16, 2020 (AP)
Tunisian President Kais Saied extended Friday the state of emergency in his country until December 31, local media reported.
The first close of the decree extended the state of emergency in all of Tunisia starting Saturday, February 19, until the end of the year.
President Saied had extended the state of emergency for one month on January 18.
Tunisia has been under a state of emergency since 2015, and it was sparked by an attack that claimed the lives of 12 presidential guards and injured 16 civilians and guards.
The North African Arab nation has been undergoing a political crisis since last July when the Tunisian President dismissed Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi and suspended parliament.
In October, he announced the formation of a new government, without lifting the parliament's suspension.
Saied also dissolved a major body dealing with judicial independence, Supreme Judicial Council.
Saied's ruling brought to a close month of vehement criticism of the judges. He had repeatedly denounced the judiciary for taking too long to rule most notably in cases of corruption and terrorism.
