Tunisian gov’t sues security syndicate officials

By Yusri Wannas

TUNIS, Tunisia

The Tunisian government on Saturday lodged a formal legal complaint against officials from the national syndicate of domestic security forces in which it accused the latter of staging demonstrations that served to undermine "the authority of the state and its institutions".

According to a Saturday government statement, "factions from the Tunisian security apparatus recently broke into a government headquarters in Tunis’ Kasbah Square chanting political slogans and threatening to riot.”

The statement added: "Protestors shouted slogans that undermined the state’s authority and institutions, caused chaos, and violated public security."

Last Thursday, hundreds of Tunisian security personnel protested outside a government headquarters in Tunis calling on Prime Minister Habib Essid to meet their demands for salary raises and better working conditions.

Protestors had accused the Tunisian government of "dragging its feet" and not meeting their "legitimate" demands.

The average monthly salary of Tunisian security personnel stands at roughly 560 Tunisian dinars (approximately $280).

According to Finance Minister Slim Chaker, Tunisia has allocated around 20 percent of its 2016 budget (the equivalent of some $13 billion) to the national defense and security sectors.