Tunisia: fears grow of further attacks
A series of critical security lapses have led the West to doubt Tunisia's ability to combat terrorists
By Mourad Teyeb, Tunis
The UK government's decision to evacuate British citizens from Tunisia comes amid growing dissatisfaction with how the country's government has reacted to the terrorist threat.
Local reports have identified a number of critical security lapses and intelligence failures.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In 2012, the attack on the US embassy in Tunis came just a few days after the US consulate in Benghazi was assaulted. Tunisian authorities said that the attack could not have been anticipated despite demonstrations by protesters carrying Al-Qaida flags and chanting anti-western slogans just days earlier.
Ali Larayedh, Tunisia's then minister of the interior, admitted to having "failed to protect the embassy".
Another significant lapse came in 2013, when warnings sent to the interior ministry about possible threats to the life of left-wing politician Mohamed Brahmi were apparently overlooked. A leaked document appears to show that the CIA sent an urgent warning to the ministry ahead of Brahmi's assassination on 25 July 2013.
This year's attack on the Bardo Museum in central Tunis is regarded by most Tunisians as a significant security failure. The museum is only meters away from the country's parliament. In the wake of the attack, Tunisia's prime minister sacked six police chiefs.
British authorities now appear to doubt the Tunisian authorities' ability to investigate the Sousse attack. Shortly after Tunisian inquiries began, Britain dispatched a team from Scotland Yard to conduct an independent review of the massacre, rather than waiting for local investigators to come back with their own report.
Despite the imposition of a state of emergency in Tunisia, little appears to have changed. Last week, one Scotland Yard investigator reportedly had his suitcase stolen at the capital's main airport.
Meanwhile, resentment is growing across the country following the closure of a number of mosques.
Seven months after the election of the Nidaa Tounes party, dissatisfaction with the performance of Tunisia's president Beji Caïd Essebsi is growing not only within Tunisia, but in the West as well.
As well as being a popular British tourist destination, Tunisia plays host to several British investments in its energy sector. Political instability and the growing terrorist threat are a concern to businesses as well as holidaymakers.
As the dissatisfaction grows, protests by the so-called "Winou el pétrole?" ("where is our oil?") movement are set to resume once Ramadan is over. Concern is now growing that the demonstrations could turn violent.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Vietnamese migrants crossing the Channel
The Explainer 2024 has seen a surge in the numbers of Vietnamese migrants making the illegal passage into the UK
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
How to make the most of your leftover pumpkins
The Week Recommends As the Halloween fun wraps up, snap up pumpkins still on sale and don't leave your jack-o-lanterns to rot
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
How Harris and Trump differ on education
The Explainer Trump wants to disband the Department of Education. Harris wants to boost teacher pay.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel's suspected mobile device offensive pushes region closer to chaos
In the Spotlight After the mass explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies assigned to Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon, is all-out regional war next, or will Israel and its neighbors step back from the brink?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published