Tunisia Reportedly Cracks Down on Journalist and Student Critical of Government

Mohamed Boughalleb, a prominent Tunisian journalist who frequently criticizes Tunisia’s president was placed in detention on Tuesday. It followed his arrest four days earlier on charges of allegedly insulting a public official on social media. 

The detention came after he reportedly threatened to reveal allegations of corruption and the misappropriation of public funds involving various ministers and institutions.

Boughalleb, is scheduled to go to trial next month. His lawyer told the AP he could be sentenced to two to four years behind bars.

The detention was handed out on the same day reports emerged of the arrest of Christian Kwongang, a Cameroonian student in Tunis who led the Association of African Students and Interns in Tunisia.

Kwongang had reportedly been vocal about racist attacks on migrants and arbitrary arrests following a controversial speech by Tunisian President Kais Saied in February 2023, where he called illegal migrants a threat to the country. 

The arrests are just the latest in a country accused of relentlessly pursuing opponents and critics.