The UK monitors the political context in Tunisia closely, including changes to the sentences of Mr Rached Ghannouchi and others. The UK regularly encourages respect for civil, political, social and economic rights and the rule of law in Tunisia. Our Ambassador to Tunisia has raised the case of Mr Ghannouchi with the Tunisian authorities, and Ministers have underlined the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government. To date, the UK has used a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open and inclusive society in Tunisia.

The UK monitors the political context in Tunisia closely, including changes to the sentences of Mr Rached Ghannouchi and others. The UK regularly encourages respect for civil, political, social and economic rights and the rule of law in Tunisia. Our Ambassador to Tunisia has raised the case of Mr Ghannouchi with the Tunisian authorities, and Ministers have underlined the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government. To date, the UK has used a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open and inclusive society in Tunisia.

The UK has engaged in long-standing cooperation with Tunisia across a range of areas, in particular in relation to defence and security. We support the strengthening of Tunisia's capabilities to contribute to regional stability, including through its UN peacekeeping role in Africa. Tunisia is also a Mediterranean Dialogue partner for NATO. The visit of the Defence Senior Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa's (DSAME) in February 2025 included senior level discussions on how to strengthen cooperation moving forward. Bilateral UK-Tunisia defence cooperation is delivered in full compliance with international standards and principles.

As with all countries, we keep our travel advice to Tunisia under regular review.

The UK has engaged in long-standing cooperation with Tunisia across a range of areas, in particular in relation to defence and security. We support the strengthening of Tunisia's capabilities to contribute to regional stability, including through its UN peacekeeping role in Africa. Tunisia is also a Mediterranean Dialogue partner for NATO. The visit of the Defence Senior Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa's (DSAME) in February 2025 included senior level discussions on how to strengthen cooperation moving forward. Bilateral UK-Tunisia defence cooperation is delivered in full compliance with international standards and principles.

As with all countries, we keep our travel advice to Tunisia under regular review.

The UK has engaged in long-standing cooperation with Tunisia across a range of areas, in particular in relation to defence and security. We support the strengthening of Tunisia's capabilities to contribute to regional stability, including through its UN peacekeeping role in Africa. Tunisia is also a Mediterranean Dialogue partner for NATO. The visit of the Defence Senior Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa's (DSAME) in February 2025 included senior level discussions on how to strengthen cooperation moving forward. Bilateral UK-Tunisia defence cooperation is delivered in full compliance with international standards and principles.

As with all countries, we keep our travel advice to Tunisia under regular review.

The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Tajikistan and Tunisia. On 8 July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to support FoRB on the international stage, through our position in the United Nations, G7 and Article 18 Alliance.

Our Embassy in Tunis has closely followed the case of Mustapha Djemali and Abderrazek Krimi since their arrest in May 2024. We have raised the case with Tunisian authorities, including at senior levels, and participated in trial observation alongside other Diplomatic missions. Both individuals were released on suspended sentences on 24 November given time served, after being found guilty of assisting migrants to enter and remain in Tunisia. We continue to engage with Tunisia and international partners on the protection of civil society and human rights.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 September to Question 70304.

We regularly engage with Tunisian authorities and civil society organisations to promote human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and we will continue our dialogue with the Tunisian government on human rights as part of our annual Association Council, most recently held in July 2025.

The UK monitors the situation in Tunisia closely. As noted in a statement by the UK at the Human Rights Council last October, the space for political participation in Tunisia has shrunk considerably and the way legitimate political actors have been arrested raises serious questions about the independence of the judiciary.

During my visit to Tunisia in July, I raised our concerns on the human rights and civil society environment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with representatives of Tunisian civil society to understand more about the situation. The Foreign Secretary also noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government in January. Our Ambassador in Tunisia regularly raises individual cases of concern in discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK actively explores a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open society.

The UK monitors the situation in Tunisia closely. As noted in a statement by the UK at the Human Rights Council last October, the space for political participation in Tunisia has shrunk considerably and the way legitimate political actors have been arrested raises serious questions about the independence of the judiciary.

During my visit to Tunisia in July, I raised our concerns on the human rights and civil society environment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with representatives of Tunisian civil society to understand more about the situation. The Foreign Secretary also noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government in January. Our Ambassador in Tunisia regularly raises individual cases of concern in discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK actively explores a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open society.

The UK is aware of the ongoing detention of Mr Bechir Akremi. We are clear on the importance of continued public commitment to respect for the rule of law, and all Tunisians' civil, political, social, and economic rights, including the right to a fair trial. The UK respects Tunisia's judicial processes and calls for all cases to be tried in an independent, transparent manner.

We have engaged with the Tunisian Government on allegations of human rights abuses and expect them to investigate such allegations. The UK has worked with Tunisian officials and partners on the implementation of a ‘code of conduct’ that aims to increase the accountability of Tunisian authorities. With UK funding, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) delivers case management for migrants in Tunisia which provides opportunities to disclose information on their experience of their journey.

The UK Government routinely carries out Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments before agreeing to undertake capacity building and other collaborative activities with overseas governments and agencies.

The UK and Tunisia share an ambition to build the bilateral relationship across trade, energy and security portfolios. The UK monitors the political and security situation in Tunisia closely. As noted by the UK's Human Rights Ambassador last October, the space for political participation in Tunisia has shrunk considerably. In both public and private, we encourage respect for civil, political, social and economic rights and the rule of law in Tunisia. During his visit to Tunisia in January, the Foreign Secretary noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government. The UK continues to use a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open society, including the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) Programme that aims to directly tackle the drivers of instability.

The UK and Tunisia enjoy a long, enduring and positive defence and security relationship. The UK continues to support the modernisation of the Tunisian military both bilaterally and multilaterally through the delivery of an ambitious NATO Defence Capacity Building package to Tunisia as a Mediterranean Dialogue country and key partner in NATO's southern neighbourhood. During the Defence Senior Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa's (DSAME) visit to Tunisia, discussions were held around strengthening cooperation moving forwards and other areas of common interest.

The UK and Tunisia share ambitions to build the bilateral relationship across trade, culture and other areas. Bilateral trade is currently £753 million (Q4 2024) an increase of 8.7 per cent from Q4 2023. There are UK-Tunisia cooperation opportunities in sectors such as agri-food and technology, particularly fintech. The UK will welcome a Tunisian delegation and ten Tunisian tech startups to London Tech Week 2025, bringing together innovators and investors.

Through the British Council's work, the UK supports a growing number of Tunisian artists, arts organisations and civil service organisations to benefit from UK partnerships. Recent collaborations include festival partnerships, youth training and capacity building, and cultural heritage preservation.

Royal Navy surface vessels have visited Tunisian ports and waters on four occasions since 2020. The visits took place in September and October 2020, April 2021 and November 2022.

The UK monitors the situation in Tunisia closely, including the recent sentence and ongoing case against Said Ferjani. During his visit to Tunisia in January, the Foreign Secretary noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government. and on On 17 February, our the British Ambassador to Tunisia raised the case of Mr Ferjani with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials are observing ongoing trial proceedings against Mr. Ferjani to signal our support for the importance of a free and fair trial, and met members of his family on 27 February to discuss his case.

The Home Office publishes statistics on detected irregular arrivals to the UK in the ‘Irregular migration to the UK statistics’ release published on gov.uk. Data on detected irregular arrivals by nationality is published in table Irr_D01 of the ‘Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets’ with the latest data up to the end of December 2023.

Please note these statistics do not include details of countries of transit, and nationality may differ from country of origin.

The Ras Jedir border crossing was closed in both Libya and Tunisia because of recent security disturbances. The UK is monitoring the situation to ensure that we are able to respond appropriately. To foster long-term stability and address the drivers of conflict in Libya, the UK is working alongside our regional and international partners in support of the UN process.

We monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely. On 18 April 2023, I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] made clear the UK's view that the wave of arrests, including of Rached Ghannouchi and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia were eroding the space for plurality. I reiterated this message during my meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister on 12 October 2023. The Association Council was also an opportunity for the UK to discuss the principles and benefits of an open and democratic society, of legitimate political opposition, the separation of powers, civil society and an inclusive political process.

We monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely. On 18 April 2023, I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] made clear the UK's view that the wave of arrests, including of Rached Ghannouchi and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia were eroding the space for plurality. I reiterated this message during my meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister on 12 October 2023. The Association Council was also an opportunity for the UK to discuss the principles and benefits of an open and democratic society, of legitimate political opposition, the separation of powers, civil society and an inclusive political process.

The UK does not provide direct financial aid to Tunisia. We provide bilateral Overseas Development Aid (ODA) through Conflict Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) to support development projects in areas including economic development, gender equality, education, and marginalised regions in Tunisia. In 2023-24, the CSSF programme totalled £2 million. Over the past five years, the total cumulative ODA spend through CSSF is £32 million.

No Royal Navy or Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have visited Tunisian ports or territorial waters during the past year.

The Government of Tunisia is facing a challenging situation with regards to irregular migration flows into and from the country. More than 95,000 people crossed the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia to Italy in 2023. Efforts to prevent crossings are improving, despite the scale of the challenge and the resources necessary to effectively do this. To support these efforts, the UK is working with the relevant authorities, and is funding an assisted voluntary returns programme in Tunisia, alongside likeminded partners, to support the safe return of migrants from Tunisia to their countries of origin.

The UK has a positive partnership with Tunisia, covering shared priorities such as trade, education, security, and tackling irregular migration, all of which featured in the UK-Tunisia Ministerial Association Council meeting on 12 October 2023 in London. The Association Council was an opportunity for the UK to discuss the principles and values of an open and democratic society, of legitimate political opposition, the separation of powers, civil society and an inclusive political process.

Through our annual Human Rights and Democracy Report we recognise where countries make progress but also where there is a decline in human and civil rights standards. Neither Tunisia nor Algeria are human rights priority countries but we continue to engage both countries on civil and human rights issues. At the UK-Tunisia Association Council meeting on 12 October 2023, the UK emphasised the importance of political participation, democratic freedoms and human rights. With Algeria, we engage directly with government officials and through the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) universal periodic review process and follow-up recommendations. We welcome the recent visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

The subject of the persecution of Christians in Tunisia was not discussed during the 2nd UK-Tunisia Association Council. However, Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is part of British Embassy Tunis' holistic approach to human rights and open society in Tunisia, which monitors the FoRB aspects in these areas, and maintains active relationships with local FoRB groups.

The Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with his Tunisian counterpart regarding the issue the Member for Milton Keynes South refers to. The UK is a firm supporter of Israel's normalisation ambitions, and of the Abraham Accords which are a historic milestone that bring us closer to the goal of shared prosperity throughout the region. We continue to encourage close regional cooperation in order to tackle regional challenges and, as we look ahead to the future, to secure a meaningful political horizon for Israelis and Palestinians.

We continue to engage with different faith groups to understand the challenges they may face. During his visit to Tunisia in June 2022, the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon visited Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious sites to understand the situation regarding Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and to express UK support for respect and tolerance between communities.

We monitor the human rights situation in Tunisia closely. The UK urges the Tunisian Government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society at every available opportunity. Most recently, the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, reiterated this message during his meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister on 4 May. The UK also coordinates with likeminded partners on how to collectively address human rights. For example, Lord Ahmad's statement of 18 April on the arrest of Rached Ghannouchi reflected an international alignment of views on the case.

We monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely. On 18 April, I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] made clear the UK's view that the recent wave of arrests, including of Rached Ghannouchi and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia were eroding the space for plurality. I reiterated this message during my meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister on 4 May. The UK continues to urge the Tunisian Government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society at every available opportunity.

Tunisia's constitution guarantees the freedom for all to practice religious rites, on the condition that public security is not compromised. We engage with different faith groups to understand the challenges they may face. During my visit to Tunisia in June 2022, I [the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] visited Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious sites to understand the situation regarding freedom of religion or belief and to express UK support for respect and tolerance between communities. I made a statement following the terrorist attack on 9 May in Djerba near the El Ghriba Synagogue, commending the Tunisian authorities' response to the situation.

The UK is aware of the increasing numbers of irregular migrants crossing from Tunisia to Europe. We work with the Tunisian Government to help improve their border security, including through the provision of Royal Navy and Royal Marine instructors to assist the Tunisian National Guard Maritime section. More broadly, the UK Government actively pursues a 'whole of route' approach to addressing unmanaged migration from Africa to Europe, tackling the drivers of migration that encourage people to undertake the dangerous journey in the first place.

The UK is a constructive partner to Tunisia. Given the scale of the socio-economic and fiscal challenges, we encourage the Tunisian government to implement urgent reform steps and deliver on the demands of the Tunisian people. The UK stands ready to play a role but tackling these issues are sovereign choices for Tunisia. We also have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities to reiterate the importance of legitimate political opposition, the separation of powers, civil society, strengthening human rights and an inclusive political process. I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa] raised these with Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 4 May.

Royal Navy Surface vessels have visited Tunisian waters and ports eight times since 2012. May 2014, December 2017, August 2018; October 2018; September 2020, October 2020 April 2021 and November 2022.

The UK is a global leader in education and we see education as a foundation for UK-Tunisian collaboration for the benefit of both the UK and Tunisians. We support education reform in Tunisia through the Global Partnership for Education fund, which recently granted Tunisia $2.3 million to develop their next five-year education strategy. We are also planning to develop a new secondary education project that builds on the achievements of 'Teaching for Success' which trained over 17,000 primary teachers and teaching advisors in improved teaching methods. To enable early school leavers to learn skills for the workplace, the UK funded four 'Second Chance' Education Centres in collaboration with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.

In financial year 2023/24, the UK will provide £2 million to Tunisia through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programme. This includes: support to the Tunisian economic reforms, delivered through the World Bank; a contribution to the UN basket fund TARABOT, to support implementation of the Tunisian Government's Counter-Terrorism Strategy; and projects in the fields of education, gender equality and Open Societies. The UK provides technical assistance directly and through multilateral organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. We regularly monitor and evaluate the support the UK provides.

On 18 April, the Minister of State for North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon made clear the UK's view that the recent wave of arrests and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia are eroding the space for political plurality, and urged the Tunisian Government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society. Lord Ahmad also raised our issues over the arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, as did His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. The UK believes in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. The UK is a constructive partner to Tunisia, and we will continue to raise these important issues with the Tunisian authorities at every available opportunity. Imposing sanctions is one response among other diplomatic tools and we will continue to consider a range of approaches to tackle human rights issues. The UK Government does not speculate on future designations. We continue to monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely.

We monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely. The UK Government has made its views clear, calling for space for legitimate political opposition, civil society and independent media in light of recent developments. On 18 April, the Minister of State for North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon made clear the UK's view that the recent wave of arrests, including of Rached Ghannouchi, and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia are eroding the space for plurality, urging the Tunisian Government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society. Lord Ahmad also reiterated this message during his meeting with the Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February. The UK is a constructive partner to Tunisia, and we will continue to raise these important issues with the Tunisian authorities at every available opportunity.

On 18 April, the Minister of State for North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon made clear the UK's view that the recent wave of arrests and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia is eroding the space for political plurality, urging the Tunisian Government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society. Lord Ahmad also raised our issues over the arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, as did His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. The UK believes in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. The UK is a constructive partner to Tunisia, and we will continue to raise these important issues with the Tunisian authorities at every available opportunity. We continue to monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely.

On 18 April, the Minister of State for North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon made clear the UK's view that the recent wave of arrests, including of Rached Ghannouchi, and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia are eroding the space for plurality, urging the Tunisian Government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society. The Minister also raised our issues over the recent arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, as did His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. The UK believes in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. We continue to monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely.

We monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely. The UK Government has made its views clear, calling for space for legitimate political opposition, civil society and independent media in light of recent developments. On 18 April, the Minister of State for North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon made clear the UK's view that the recent wave of arrests, including of Rached Ghannouchi, and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia are eroding the space for plurality, urging the Tunisian government to respect the principles and values of an open and democratic society. Lord Ahmad also reiterated this message during his meeting with the Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February. The UK is a constructive partner to Tunisia, and we will continue to raise these important issues with the Tunisian authorities at every available opportunity.

The UK helps protect women's rights in Tunisia by supporting improved public policies and services for victims and survivors of gender-based violence, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Tunisian Ministry of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly. We also support gender equality by enhancing the skills and knowledge of women-led civil society organisations, including in marginalised regions. The UK is committed to supporting the rights of women and girls worldwide and in Tunisia.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for North Africa, raised the recent wave of arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, underlining the importance of due legal process and respect for freedom of expression and association. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK concerns regarding the arrests with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. Officials and Ministers have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities and international counterparts to reiterate the UK's belief in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. We will continue to engage the Tunisian authorities on these issues.

Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for North Africa, raised the UK's issues with the recent wave of arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, underlining the importance of due legal process and respect for freedom of expression and association. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK issues with the arrests with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. Officials and Ministers have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities to reiterate the UK's belief in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies.

Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for North Africa, raised the UK's issue with the recent wave of arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, underlining the importance of due legal process and respect for freedom of expression and association. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK concerns regarding the arrests with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. Officials and Ministers have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities to reiterate the UK's belief in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. We will continue to engage the Tunisian authorities on these issues.

Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for North Africa, raised the UK's Issue with the recent wave of arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, underlining the importance of due legal process and respect for freedom of expression and association. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK concerns regarding the arrests with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. Officials and Ministers have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities to reiterate the UK's belief in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. We will continue to engage the Tunisian authorities on these issues.

The UK closely monitors the political and judicial situation in Tunisia. We regularly raise respect for human rights and due legal process with the Tunisian Government, including at the highest levels. Minister of State for North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, publicly commented on the recent arrests on 16 February. He also raised the UK's concerns directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, underlining the importance of due legal process and respect for freedom of expression and association. We will continue engage the Tunisian authorities on these issues.

The UK believes that democratic institutions and accountable governments are the foundations on which open, stable and prosperous societies thrive. We meet regularly with international partners to discuss the political and economic situation in Tunisia. G7 Ambassadors in Tunis have made several joint statements since July 2021, emphasising that democratic values remain central to our ongoing relationships, as well as stating the importance of respect for all Tunisians' fundamental freedoms, and inclusive and transparent engagement with all stakeholders, including diverse political and civil society voices. Together with our partners, we stand ready to support Tunisia and its people.

The UK has been clear on the importance of effective, legitimate political opposition, separation of powers, human rights and fundamental freedoms, civil society, and independent media in Tunisia. Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for North Africa, raised democratic values and human rights with the Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK concerns with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. As a constructive partner to Tunisia, we will continue to engage the Tunisian Government on these important issues.

We monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely. The UK has made our views clear, calling for space for legitimate political opposition, civil society and independent media in light of recent developments including most recently during the meeting of Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for North Africa, with the Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February. The UK is a constructive partner to Tunisia, and we will continue to raise these important issues with the Tunisian authorities at every available opportunity.

The statement by President Kais Saied on 21 February led to an alarming and rapid increase in instances of racially motivated discrimination and violence in Tunisia, primarily towards migrants of Sub-Saharan African origin, but also other Black people, including Tunisians. We have followed these developments closely and updated our Travel Advice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tunis announced new measures on 5 March to extend residency rights for people from African countries, improve the safety and security of migrants, including more flexible regulations towards irregular migrants. The UK underlines the importance of equality, human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.

We are concerned by the recent wide-ranging arrests in Tunisia, including those of politicians, former civil servants, businesspeople and media representatives. The UK underlines the importance of due legal process and respect for human rights, especially freedoms of expression and association. Tunisians should have the space for legitimate political opposition, civil society and independent media activity.

What recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the human rights situation in Tunisia.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister for north Africa, publicly commented on this matter on 16 February. He has also raised the issue with the Tunisian chargé d’affaires, and G7 ambassadors in Tunisia have also made a number of joint statements since July 2021. We are also aware of reports of racially motivated discrimination and violence towards perceived sub-Saharan African migrants, and we encourage Tunisia to comply with the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.

I thank the Minister for that answer, but President Kais is seeking to impose one-man rule in Tunisia, including with a sham Parliament and the arrest of critics. He now appears to be looking for scapegoats, such as black Africans, to distract attention from the dire economic and social situation. Will the Minister condemn what is happening now in Tunisia and support those working for democratic and tolerant governance in the country?

Officials and Ministers have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities to reiterate the UK's belief in the importance of civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] raised the latest arrests with the Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, emphasising the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society and independent media. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK concerns regarding the arrests with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February.

Tunisian authorities permitted international observers in the first round of legislative elections on 17 December. In the second round of legislative elections on 29 January, international observers will also be permitted.

The UK is aware of the changes to the Independent High Authority for Elections. The UK believes that checks and balances are needed in all political systems, as core components of a functioning, transparent democracy. This is something that we have regularly raised with the Tunisian Government since 25 July 2021.

The UK is aware of the legal case being brought against Sami Ben Sala. We regularly raise respect for human rights and due legal process with the Tunisian Government. All legitimate political actors should be able to operate, and the judiciary must carry out its work independently and transparently. We regularly raise human rights with the Tunisian authorities, and will continue to do so.

The UK believes that democratic institutions and accountable governments are the foundations on which open, stable and prosperous societies thrive. Following the second round of elections, it will be important for the Tunisian authorities and the new parliament, when it is established, to work together in an inclusive way to reassure Tunisians that key economic challenges are being addressed.