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| Africa North |
| 'Arc of crisis' across North Africa |
| 2013-12-18 |
| [MAGHAREBIA] Sophie Bessis is a renowned Tunisian journalist. A qualified history teacher and former editor-in-chief of Jeune Afrique and the UNESCO Courier, she is currently director of research at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS) in Gay Paree. Magharebia met her in Nouakchott to discuss security issues and obstacles to the democratic transition in Tunisia, a process in which she is participating as a highly active civil society figure. Magharebia: How is Tunisia's transition going? Sophie Bessis: At the moment there is a standstill, which is due to several factors. After the fall of the dictatorship, it was decided that the republic would be re-established by electing a constituent assembly, which would write a new constitution. After the elections were won by the Ennahda Party with a relative majority (37 per cent), it was agreed that the constitution would be adopted within a year. But Ennahda and its two allies, the troika as they are known, failed to meet the deadlines. The second reason is that there has been growing political insecurity and bully boy groups have proliferated. Initially they were protected by the government and there were some political liquidations, a first in Tunisia. These liquidations created a big stir, with nearly a million people taking to the streets. And after the second liquidation, that of Mohammed Brahmi, the opposition stood down and demanded the appointment of a non-political government. Ennahda agreed to compromise and begin a national dialogue process, but since then things haven't gone any further. And since July, there has been no progress at all. This situation has been engineered by the ruling party, which is employing stalling tactics. And the Constituent Assembly is continuing to govern, which it is no longer empowered to do. Magharebia: And what are the consequences of this standstill for Tunisia? Bessis: The situation in the country is getting worse. Ennahda has been very soft on the jihadists, who have had time to get organised, and we are now witnessing the formation of armed jihadist groups based at the Algerian border, which we've never had in Tunisia before. Magharebia: What is your assessment of the security situation? Bessis: We must not close our eyes or compound the situation, it is clear that the situation is no longer the same as it was a few years ago. Tunisia is a hostage to the regional context. Libya has been destabilised and weapons have been dispatched across the entire region. The country is now controlled by militias. So the cancer affecting Libya has a lot to do with the current situation. The borders are also very porous. There is now an arc of crisis stretching from North Africa to Somalia via Nigeria. Magharebia: How can Tunisia tackle the security challenges? Bessis: The security situation depends to a great extent on the political situation. So if there is a competent government, we could change the course of things. But until a political solution to the crisis is found, that will be very difficult. The security forces and intelligence services are seriously inadequate, and this inadequacy must be put right swiftly. Magharebia: Why are young people joining terrorist groups so readily? Bessis: Ever since things became lax two or three years ago, preachers in mosques have been taking advantage of this to attract young people with inflammatory talk. And Qur'an schools have been opened in huge numbers, with no supervision. These schools teach bully boy ideas that are targeted at young men who have no jobs, no future and no prospects. This is fertile ground for jihadism. And, you know, jihadist movements are wealthy and have a lot of money. So several thousand young Tunisians have gone to Syria. Magharebia: And how have Tunisians reacted to this danger? Bessis: In Tunisia, there is a very dynamic civil society. There are antibodies even though the dictatorship destroyed a lot of them. As for the young people drawn into jihad, there are mothers who have gone to Syria and Turkey to bring their children home. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Wehell, what Member Govts-Nation(s) of the African Union = future Amerikan BFF + Nukulaar OWG "Co-Superpower(s?)" will help save Bammerika from local or espec foreign Hard Boyz??? just askin'. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2013-12-18 01:56 |