Tunisia quits African human rights court

Tunisia has withdrawn from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, a move condemned by rights groups as a major setback for justice and accountability, according to AFP. The government provided no explanation for the decision, which revokes the right of individuals and NGOs to file cases against the state. 

Tunisia had joined the court in 2017, following its emergence as the only democracy from the 2011 Arab Spring. However, since President Kais Saied's power grab in 2021, political repression has intensified, with critics jailed and opposition leaders facing mass trials.

The withdrawal comes months after the court ruled against Tunisia in a case brought by families of detained opposition figures, demanding better access to legal representation. Rights groups decried the move as an attempt to evade independent scrutiny, warning it undermines justice and erodes Tunisia’s commitments to human rights under the African Union framework.