Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 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

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×