Tunisian president officially dissolves Supreme Judicial Council

CAIRO - 7 February 2022: Tunisian President Kais Saied has ordered dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council, accusing it of serving political interests.

The council, which was set up in 2016 to serve as an independent judicial watchdog, refused the decision and said it would continue its duties. However, Tunisia police reportedly locked the council’s doors and stopped staff from entering.

"You cannot imagine the money that some judges could receive. [They could receive] billions and billions," Saied said.

In July last year, the Tunisian president sacked the government of Hichem Mechichi and suspended the activities of parliament.

Egypt has repeatedly affirmed its support to Saied’s measures to protect the security and stability of the sisterly Arab country, calling them “historic”.

In October, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi congratulated Saied on the formation of the new government and its taking of the constitutional oath.

In a phone call, Sisi affirmed Egypt’s support to all steps that would maintain stability in the sisterly Tunisia, a statement by the Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said.

He also expressed appreciation of the firm brotherly and historic relations tying the governments and peoples of Egypt and Tunisia.

For his part, President Kais Saied extended his greetings to Sisi for congratulating him, affirming that this reflects the strength and depth of relations between Egypt and Tunisia.

Saied stressed keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation with Egypt.

The Tunisian president hailed Egypt’s support to the Tunisian affairs and lauded the Egyptian pivotal role in fostering the mechanisms of joint Arab and African work in the face of the current regional challenges.