Civil society under pressure as Tunisia suspends major NGO
A woman protester wears a mask depicting Tunisian President Kais Saied during a popular march that brings together thousands of Tunisians, including opposition supporters, human rights activists, civil society members, and families of detained opposition figures in Tunis, Tunisia, on January 10, 2026. According to organizers, the march takes place under the slogans ''Injustice Heralds Revolution'' and ''Revolutionary Mandate Against Tyranny'' and aims for the restoration of the spirit of the Tunisian Revolution and the defense of freedom and dignity, asserting that the revolution belongs to the people. Participants denounce an escalating crackdown on freedoms and rights, describing it as an injustice under President Kais Saied's rule. The march comes in response to President Kais Saied's claim that a pro-Saied rally on the revolution's 15th anniversary in December 2025 reflects a popular mandate, a claim that critics challenge due to limited and orchestrated turnout. (Photo by Chedly Ben Ibrahim/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Tunisian authorities have suspended the local branch of Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) for 30 days, the organisation said on May 5th, in what appears to be part of a widening crackdown on civil society groups, as reported by Africa News with AFP on May 6th.
ASF said it had received no clear explanation for the decision, which comes just days after another prominent organisation was subjected to a similar measure. In a statement, the group condemned the suspension as an “unjustified infringement” on civic freedoms and accused authorities of targeting independent organisations working to promote justice and the rule of law. It added that it intends to challenge the decision through legal channels.
The move follows the recent suspension of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), one of the country’s most established advocacy groups and a co-recipient of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. The back-to-back actions have raised concerns among observers about increasing pressure on Tunisia’s civil society sector.
Once hailed as a democratic success story following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising, Tunisia has faced growing criticism in recent years under President Kais Saied. Since consolidating power in 2021, Saied has been accused by rights groups of overseeing a steady erosion of political freedoms and institutional checks.
Authorities have defended their stance by alleging that some non-governmental organisations receive large sums of foreign funding, which Saied has described as interference in domestic affairs. However, critics argue that such claims are being used to justify restrictions on independent voices.
By late last year, at least 17 NGOs had been issued temporary suspension orders, including well-known groups such as the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights and the Association of Democratic Women. The latest action against ASF is likely to deepen concerns about the future of civic space in Tunisia.
Africa News with AFP, Maghrebi.org
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