Steg resumed rolling blackouts on August 3, despite President Kaïs Saïed calling the situation abnormal on July 19 and prosecutors subsequently opening investigations into district chiefs at the utility. Elias Ben Ammar, of the UGTT's electricity and gas section, told African Manager it is the ministry of industry, mines and energy that refuses to inform citizens of the real energy position and opposes the company's wish to warn them of cuts. He denies reports of new generating equipment: the motor recently bought replaces a broken transformer at Mornaguia, and no power ship has been agreed. The Tunisian Organisation of Young Doctors puts the death toll since the cuts began at 150 to 200, a figure the authorities have neither confirmed nor commented on.
Anes Ben Gharbal, in charge of communication at the tourism ministry, told Mosaïque FM that 5.828 million visitors came to Tunisia in the first seven months of the year, 2.6 percent more than the same period of 2025. She called it a positive and significant result given the international conditions facing destinations generally. A monitoring committee met on Wednesday on inspections of tourist establishments and on cleanliness programmes, which the ministry treats as decisive for the destination's appeal. The ministry is also broadening its source markets, pushing particularly for Chinese visitors through promotion and more air links.
The US Embassy in Tunisia and the Assistance Coordination Office of the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs have opened a call for applications under an initiative titled Securing US Critical Mineral Supply Chains, Tunisia. The embassy is seeking organisations able to strengthen trade and investment ties, develop technical standards for advanced stages of production and build resilient, transparent supply chains. A single grant of between $1 million and $1.536 million will be awarded, with an implementation period of 18 to 24 months. Applications close on September 2, 2026. Phosphates are one of the few sectors where Tunisia holds a global position, and the interest places it inside the race for critical minerals.
