The recent actions of Tunisian President Kais Saied, including the suspension of parliament and dismissal of government officials, have sparked concerns among democracy and human rights advocates about the state of Tunisia's democratic institutions.

Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi was arrested last week and remains in detention, as part of an ongoing crackdown against critics of President Kais Saied. Ghannouchi’s arrest and Saied’s clampdown on political freedoms have major implications for Tunisia’s domestic affairs as well as its foreign relations.

The conflict in Sudan, exacerbated by economic and political crises, has led to the deployment of the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group accused of human rights violations, further complicating efforts to resolve the crisis.

Sudan has been gripped by violence since fighting broke out just over a week ago between rival military factions vying for control in Khartoum. With the situation deteriorating, the plight of civilians has been in the spotlight, but protective infrastructure is scarce. For Sudanese civilians, the only option has been “self-protection.”

President Saied's recent consolidation of power in Tunisia has raised questions about the country's political and economic stability, further complicating its ability to address urgent challenges such as climate change that also affect the wider Middle East region.

For Tunisia’s population, water shortages are only the latest addition to a broader array of difficulties, including mounting inflation and a collapsing currency. Many Tunisians are now turning against President Kais Saied’s authoritarian power grab, and the sight of dry water taps is fueling further discontent.

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More than 300 people have been killed and thousands more wounded in the week since intra-regime fighting among Sudan’s military rulers broke out in Khartoum. In addition to creating a humanitarian crisis in Khartoum, the conflict now risks drawing in regional actors, with potential fallout for neighboring states.

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A week of fighting in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, has left more than 300 people dead and thousands more injured. The violence is now spreading to other parts of the country, raising fears of a wider conflict that could destabilize the already delicate Horn of Africa region.