WASHINGTON (July 22, 2026) – It’s been five years since Tunisian President, Kais Saied's take over. On July 25, 2021, Saied suspended parliament, dismissed the prime minister and declared a state of emergency by ruling without lawmakers’ approval.
Saied has since seized more powers, while changing the country’s constitution in the process. Critics described this move as a coup and said it marks the beginning of Tunisia’s descent toward authoritarianism.
For more analysis on these developments, please consider Gordon Gray, the Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. Gray worked for the U.S. government for 35 years. Gray’s public service included U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia from 2009-2012, Senior Advisory to the Ambassador in Iraq 2008-2009, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2005- 2008. His other foreign assignments included Egypt (where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2002 until 2005), Canada, Jordan, Pakistan, and Morocco, where he began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer.
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gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW media at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
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