Tunisia’s National Guard announced on Tuesday the arrest of three extremist elements in the regions of Beja, Ariana, and Bizerte.
In a statement, the National Guard said that its units had apprehended these individuals on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. It was clarified that the accused have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from three months to five years.
The National Guard noted that the necessary legal procedures regarding the accused have been taken.
Tunisia has made significant efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, particularly after the 2011 Revolution which marked a period of heightened security challenges. The country has focused on various strategies to enhance its counter-terrorism capabilities, including infrastructure improvements, intelligence gathering, and legal and institutional reforms.
One of the notable measures is the construction of a 125-mile anti-terror barrier along the border with Libya to curb the infiltration of extremists and arms. The Tunisian military has taken over enforcement missions in border areas, previously managed by the Ministry of the Interior, and has effectively engaged in joint counterterrorism operations with Algerian and American forces. This transition has allowed the military to combine force application with community engagement strategies, aiming to gain the support of Tunisians in isolated border communities.
Tunisia has also made strides in intelligence gathering and analysis. Following the collapse of the authoritarian regime in 2011, the government disbanded several intelligence services associated with the old regime and established new bodies to address the emerging security challenges. This includes the creation of a new military intelligence agency and a central Strategic Planning Unit within the Ministry of Interior to enhance efficiency and tackle security threats through proactive planning.
Interagency coordination has been improved through the establishment of networking poles aimed at enhancing national security collaboration in addressing terrorism and organized crime. The Ministry of Defense has also developed an information-sharing platform to streamline operations and facilitate quick dissemination of tactical intelligence.
On the financial front, Tunisia has worked on developing its counter-terrorism finance capabilities. The establishment of the National Counterterrorism Commission within the cabinet has been a key step, monitoring and implementing UN resolutions related to combating terrorism. Efforts to prosecute terrorism financing have been challenging due to limited resources and expertise in financial crimes within the law enforcement and judiciary sectors. However, the country has made progress, notably through the Basic Law Number 26 of August 2015, which established a legal framework for addressing gaps in the anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism system.
