Tunisian politicians have called on Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune not to interfere in their country’s affairs, after he affirmed that his country would confront any attempt to bring terrorism into Tunisia.
Maher Al-Abbasi, a former leader in the Tahya Tounes party, addressed Tebboune, saying: “When terrorism struck Algeria, it caused 200,000 martyrs, the state collapsed, terror spread, and it took you ten years to overcome it. But when terrorism struck Tunisia, it caused 200 martyrs, and the state remained standing, and we organized democratic elections and eliminated it in five years.”
He added: “Tunisia is the only country that ISIS has not been able to capture a single square meter of. Also, American, British and French special forces come to train with our special forces to learn from them how to combat terrorism.”
He continued, addressing Tebboune: “Thank you for the heartfelt sentiments, but take care of your own country. Tunisia has men and women who know how to defend it, and we will not allow anyone to interfere in our affairs.”
In another post, Abbassi wrote, “I, a Tunisian citizen, demand that Kais Saied and the Minister of Foreign Affairs summon the Algerian ambassador and issue a strongly worded protest to him and his president, Tebboune, regarding the dangerous and insulting statement against Tunisia.”
Former MP Yassine Ayari resorted to sarcasm, saying: “Italy summons the Algerian ambassador and delivers a strongly worded message: Tunisia’s sovereignty is inviolable (…) Then Tebboune, Meloni, and Sisi laughed, and sovereignty and confronting foreign conspiracies laughed.”
One activist wrote: “President Tebboune’s statement, which included the phrase ‘Whoever threatens Tunisia with terrorism, we will destroy his tent,’ while reflecting support and reassurance from a sister nation that is a regional power, opens the door to a number of questions, perhaps the most prominent of which are: Why did this statement come at this particular time? Were its messages directed internally or externally? Or is there a plan hatched behind closed doors to target Tunisia, the outlines of which were discovered by the Algerian intelligence services, or some of whose details were revealed?”
One activist asked: “What business does Tebboune have interfering in Tunisia’s internal affairs? People are waiting for a speech from Kais Saied, and instead it comes from Tebboune!”
Judge and former presidential candidate Kalthoum Kannou wrote, “The Algerian president attended on behalf of the Tunisian president and argued what he saw as useful, warning and threatening anyone who conspires against Tunisia that he will leave them with the tent of their grandfather’s parents.”
Lawyer Dalila Messadek addressed Tebboune, saying: “We hope you will tell us clearly what you mean by terrorism and who exactly you mean. Because we have political prisoners whom the authorities accuse of terrorism. Do you want to destroy our tent?”
Abdelouah Yahiaoui, a lawyer and former leader in the Hirak party, asked: “Who does Tebboune mean by terrorism?”
He added: “Tebboune’s speech cannot be read in isolation from the Al-Khabar newspaper article that accused Marzouki of serving what it called the ‘axis of evil’.”
He considered that Tebboune's speech was primarily directed against the Tunisian opposition in order to block any possible change in Tunisian politics.
The Algerian press launched an unprecedented attack on former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, criticizing the interview he gave to France 24, while a number of Tunisian activists demanded that the channel not interfere in their country's affairs.
Marzouki had previously criticized Tebboune, calling on him not to interfere in his country's affairs, after the latter spoke about his country bringing together the political rivals in Tunisia, which he said was being subjected to a foreign conspiracy.
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