Kais Saied

Rule Changes

In office; faces the largest protests in years

A Tunisian military court sentenced opposition leader Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on 21 October in two cases over Facebook posts, which prosecutors called a plot against state security and incitement of soldiers to disobey orders. Her lawyer, Akram Moussa, said the court fined her 40,000 dinars, about €12,000. Al Jazeera reported the fines at 80,000 dinars, about $26,000.

Updated Oct 27

Rule Changes

As of October 2026: In office; issued Decree 54 and its September 2026 amendment

Spreading "false news" online in Tunisia once carried up to five years in prison. On September 30, President Kais Saied replaced that punishment with fines for first-time offenders — the first softening of a decree rights groups call repressive.

Updated Oct 12

Built World

As of September 2026: Sitting president, in office since 2019

Tunisia's summer of 2026 was the hottest since the country began keeping weather records in 1950. The June-August national average ran 2.9°C above the 1991-2020 baseline, with back-to-back heatwaves peaking at 49.7°C in Kairouan in mid-July.

Updated Sep 23