Tunisian Interior Minister Kamal Feki has called upon the nation’s security forces to exert maximum effort and enhance their state of readiness to maintain public security and ensure the safety and stability of Tunisia.
These remarks were made during Minister Feki’s inspection visit to the security units operating in the Beja governorate, where he also shared an iftar meal with them, according to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior.
The statement highlighted that the visit included inspections of several security checkpoints to assess the operational efficiency and readiness of the security units. Moreover, Minister Feki evaluated the human and material resources that have been allocated to safeguard the security of citizens and protect public and private property.
Tunisia has significantly evolved its counterterrorism strategy over the years, particularly in response to the heightened terrorist threats in the mid-2010s. This evolution was largely driven by the realization that traditional military postures and counterterrorism practices were ineffective against the more mobile and flexible terrorist adversaries. Significant strides have been made in revising military doctrines, improving operational readiness, and enhancing the combat competency of the Tunisian military with the support of international partners such as the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and NATO. One notable physical manifestation of Tunisia’s counterterrorism efforts is the construction of a 125-mile anti-terror barrier along its volatile border with Libya to stem the flow of terrorists and arms.
The Tunisian government has also focused on enhancing its intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities. This has involved revamping the intelligence community, which previously had been politicized and used to suppress dissent. New bodies have been set up to face security challenges, and significant efforts have been made to improve interagency coordination. These efforts include the creation of networking poles to enhance cooperation between various security services and judicial authorities in tackling terrorism and organized crime.
Despite the progress in military and intelligence capabilities, Tunisia has faced challenges in addressing the financial aspects of terrorism. Initially, Tunisian authorities viewed terrorism financing as a local issue, despite evidence to the contrary. This perspective shifted significantly by 2016, with the collapse of the Qaddafi regime in Libya exacerbating concerns about the movement of fighters and the financing of terrorism. Efforts to prosecute terrorism financing cases were hampered by a lack of expertise and resources, and the judiciary struggled with processing terrorism-related charges. To address these and other challenges, Tunisia has implemented several initiatives aimed at strengthening its counterterrorism finance capabilities, including the creation of a National Counterterrorism Commission (NCC) and conducting a National Risk Assessment (NRA) on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
