State of Emergency in Tunisia Extended Until the End of This Month

Ministry of the Interior on Avenue Habib Bourguiba

The Tunisian government has decided to extend the current state of emergency in the country until the end of April, according to an official statement released on Saturday evening by a Presidential spokesperson.

The spokesperson announced that Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has authorized the one month extension after consultation with the head of the National Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar and Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali.

The announcement cited various threats that may cause disturbances to the overall security situation in Tunisia as the primary reason for the extension of the state of emergency. The official communication also stated  that the state of emergency does not necessarily restrict public and individual freedoms.

“The extension of the state of emergency in Tunisia was expected because, despite the improvement in the security situation, there is still some sort of social tension that needs to be taken into consideration,” said Salah Eddine Jorchi, a media figure and a political analyst.

Jorchi further explained that the decision is a back up measure for the government to take in order to deal with any potential deterioration in security. “This decision is also related to the government’s knowledge of gun smuggling from Libya to Tunisia, as well as the social situation,” he added.

According to Jorchi, in order to save the touristic season, Tunisia must ensure a safe environment for tourists. “The improvement in the security situation in Tunisia is a fundamental condition to save the tourism season,” he concluded.