Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Tunisia coup: UAE supports President Saied's 'positive agenda', says official

Tunisia coup: UAE supports President Saied's 'positive agenda', says official

Ennahda, the biggest party in Tunisia's parliament, has accused the UAE of playing a role in President Saied's power grab - allegations Abu Dhabi denies

The United Arab Emirates supports Tunisian President Kais Saied's decision to freeze parliament and assume executive power, an advisor to the UAE president has said.

Anwar Gargesh, diplomatic advisor to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, met with President Saied on Saturday, amid allegations that the Emirates played a role in the Tunisian leader's recent measures, which opponents have branded a coup.

"We support the Tunisian state and president in this positive agenda," Anwar Gargesh said after the meeting.

Saied froze parliament and dismissed the prime minister two weeks ago, and has since declared that there will be "no turning back" from the decision.

Despite pressure from the country's powerful labour union, as well as both the United States and France, Saied has not named a new prime minister, announced any steps to end the emergency or declared his longer-term intentions.

Calls to investigate UAE and Saudi role


The UAE and Saudi Arabia have both been accused of supporting the Tunisian President in an attempt to establish a government friendly to their own ambitions.

Rached Ghannouchi, head of Ennahda, the biggest party in Tunisia's parliament and most vocal opponent of Saied's moves, has accused the UAE of being behind the "constitutional coup" - an allegation the UAE has denied.

"I was not surprised by Mr Rashid Ghannouchi’s… accusations against the Emirates. We have become accustomed to the use of the name of the Emirates by these authorities to justify local and structural shortcomings," Gargesh said last week. "My advice is to read the internal events of his country."

Last week, US Senator Chris Murphy called on the Biden administration to look into whether Saudi Arabia or the UAE played a role in assisting President Saied's efforts.

Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have both been highly critical of the Ennahda party, which formed a government after the 2011 revolution, as it has been described as an example of how political Islam and democracy could work together.

The 2011 revolution in Tunisia sparked what would be known as "the Arab Spring", which was seen as a major threat by the two Gulf powers, which sought to preserve authoritarian rule.

The governments of the UAE and Saudi Arabia also oppose Ennahda for its ties with Qatar and Turkey, regional foes.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also met with President Saied last week to discuss ties between the two countries, reiterating the kingdom's support.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×