Sources indicate that security forces have increased their presence along main streets and major highways throughout Tunis.  

Today in Cité Ettadhamen

We have received information from our contacts & readers that indicate sporadic incidents of rioting in Cite Ettadhamen.  

Additionally, several reports indicate that some Ansar al-Sharia leaders have called on followers to meet at several different local mosque throughout Tunis.

Strategic Shift

Ansar al-Sharia seems to have shifted their strategy by having smaller gatherings throughout Tunis since they were not allowed to have their main meeting in Kairouan.  

Expat Awareness

Remember that while these gatherings present low risks to the expat community, criminals may take advantage of the situation to riot & loot.  This is why we must avoid protests and maintain good situational awareness.  

While I was driving back last night from the La Closeria restaurant in La Soukra…I thought to myself “what a paradox?”

On one hand my mind was buys thinking about Kairouan and the many scenarios that could play out.  Yet all around me there were people laughing, drinking, and having a merry time.

As I left the restaurant I couldn’t help noticed additional police checkpoints and military units circulating on the La Marsa highway (GP9).

Indeed Tunisia is a country at a crossroad.  

Kairouan-Sunday, May 19th

While the Tunisian government has officially banned Ansar al-Sharia’s congress in Kairouan, the group still intends on having their meeting.  This being the case something will have to give.

It is highly unlikely that Ansar al-Sharia will attempt to have a “Brave Heart” style battle against Tunisian Security forces on Sunday.  What will happen is what has already been happening namely the increased tension between ultra conservative groups and the government at large.

Expat Awareness

Violent or non-violent, Sunday’s events will not end on Sunday.  Ansar al-Sharia’s followers are mostly young, determined  and angry.  For months I’ve watched them walk around with their newly acquired beards, cargo pants, and militant looks.  If their meeting is suppressed we can be assured that they will attempt to make a statement in a more convert fashion.

Let’s keep networking & sharing information.  Here’s a brief Kairouan Update:

With all eyes on Kairouan I wanted to share this brief video blurb.  As always I appreciate your feedback and let’s keep sharing information.  

Click to see the video blurb

Articles referenced in blurb:

• Tunisia Salafists to meet in defiance of ban
• Confronting Tunisia’s jihadists
• Tunisia’s national dialogue to end the political instability 

Busy weekend on the security side of things, but also this weekend was a good snapshot of the situation in Tunisia.  

On one hand we had great weather and many positive venues to enjoy…but a simple google news search provides more than enough stories to be concerned about.  

A Shift

As informed expats we can learn a lot from what’s happening in Libya.  It’s crystal clear that things are heating up next door:

“Oil giant BP has withdrawn some nonessential staff from operations in Libya following UK government advice about uncertainty in the country.”-Article 

“The US and Britain have announced that they are withdrawing some diplomatic staff from Libya, amid security concerns over a recent flare-up in political unrest.” Article 

“A country (Libya) being pushed toward an abyss wrought of foreign intervention coupled with a weak central government and a plentiful supply of heavy weapons outside of government control.”-Article

Aware of the Shift 

The shift is on in Tunis.  On Saturday:  ”Clashes erupt after prayers around Bilal mosque in Sidi Hassine Sijoumi area, where Salafists used knives, Molotov cocktails.”

As the government attempts to strengthen the security landscape; we will see more clashes between Tunisian Security Forces and “salafists”.  

We have entered a new phase in this revolution/evolution process.  Although the effects are currently not taking place in traditional “expat neighborhoods”, we need to remain aware and engaged.  

Let’s keep sharing information and empowering our expat community.  

Interesting times here in Tunisia.  As a security coordinator I get my information from 4 primary channels.  

1. Open sources:  Publicly available information such media, web-based communities, public data, etc. 
2. Professional Network:  I am fortunate to network with many expat security professionals and local security contacts.  
3. Commercial security updates:  Companies that provide more comprehensive & in-depth analysis.  
4. Friends & family:  I am lucky enough to know a wide variety of informed co-workers, friends, and family members

A simple search on google news is enough to keep a security coordinator concerned about the developments in Tunisia.  While some headlines are positive the challenges far outweigh the breakthroughs.  

In addition to the basic google news search I am also receiving a lot of concerning information through other trusted sources.  

Top 3 Concerns

Political uncertainty:  

“The fight for power in Tunisia is in full swing, and the country could go in one of two directions: Toward democracy with a clear separation between religion and politics, or to a theocracy governed by Shariah law.“-Read Full Article 

Economic challenges 

“There is an urgent need to start a national dialogue among representatives from civil society organization, trade unions, employers, workers in the informal sector and the unemployed to reach a new social contract that accommodates the economic effects of public policy and recognizes the importance of property rights, competition, and fighting corruption in driving growth and creating jobs.“-Read Full Article

 
Security Breakdown 

“The hunt for al-Qaida-linked militants in a mountainous region near Tunisia’s borders with Algeria in recent days has raised alarm that the birthplace of the Arab Spring has become the latest battleground for violent jihadis.”-Read Full Article

Bottom line for Expats

The bottom line is that Tunisia is still going through a major transition and Expats can not afford to remain uninformed.  Awareness frees us from panic & unnecessary stress and  empowers us to thrive in our host country.   

The developments in Kasserine will have wider implications throughout the country.  As a result we may see more and more political discord which will affect different sectors of the government.  

Alaya Allani, an expert on North African Islamist movements has good advise for Expats:  “For now the warning light is orange but it risks turning red if the appropriate measures are not taken.”  

By staying informed & engaged with our community we can continue to not only live here safely but also enjoy the full expat experience.   

The ripple effects of the Middle East are arriving in Tunisia.  Today “several hundred citizens and politicians and members of civil society marched in Avenue Habib Bourguiba to denounce the latest Israeli attack in Syria.”-Tunis Numerique

Expat Awareness

This incident along with the developing situation in Kasserine and the current challenging political environment underscores why it is important for expats to remain informed on both local as well as geopolitics

Stay informed with effective streams of information:

• Community connection: Causal conversation with your Tunisian friends and colleagues will not only keep you informed but also allow you to learn more about issues that aren’t covered on the news.  
• Online sources:  Of course there are a variety of websites with informative updates and helpful information such as TunisiaLive.
• Security focused sources:  Feel free to subscribe to the Tunisia Security Update and check out our Facebook Page as well to receive all our updates.

Feel free to share additional sources and let’s keep sharing information.

This has been an interesting week with a lot of information coming in and many new developments to share.

Recently, a few subscribers asked me to provide more contact & networking information so that we can connect on other media outlets.

Below are 3 options for us to network & share more information.

Feel free to click on the icons to connect :

• LinkedIN offers a great platform to exchange ideas & contact information.  I also moderate (2) professional groups which you can join.  
  

• We like to share quick & informative updates on our Facebook Page.  Additionally, it is a good platform for expats to share information and provide insightful comments.  With close to 600 likes…our facebook page is always booming with information.  

Tunisia Security Update Facebook Page

• Twitter is also good for quick updates and you are welcome to follow my feed:@DAVIDSECURITY

Expat Network 

Funny as it sounds when I frist started this blog in late 2010, some people told me that there was “no need for a security blog in Tunisia”.  Now the blog is read by over 1,000 subscribers and I receive emails from people all over the world.  

I look forward to adding you into my professional network and together we will continue to ensure our expat community remains informed, aware, and connected.  

“Networking is simply the cultivating of mutually beneficial, give and take, win-win relationships. It works best, however, when emphasizing the ‘give’ part.” ~ Bob Burg

]]> http://tunisiasecurityupdate.com/2013/05/05/ts-update-expat-networking/feed/ 0 securedas23 expatnetwork http://tunisiasecurityupdate.com/2013/05/01/ts-update-kasserine-border-travel/ http://tunisiasecurityupdate.com/2013/05/01/ts-update-kasserine-border-travel/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 11:08:42 +0000 DavidSecurity http://tunisiasecurityupdate.com/?p=1877 Read More ›]]> Greetings Expats,

I hope you are all enjoying Mayday Labor Day.  I wanted to share some information regarding the recent incident in Kasserine.  

Located in west-central Tunisia on the frontier with Algeria.

Expat Awareness

KASSERINE, Tunisia: “A land mine explosion seriously wounded two members of Tunisia’s national guard on Monday as they pursued a group of armed Islamists near the Algerian border, the interior minister said.”-DailyStar

Traveling to the Algerian border

The Australian government website is usually more cautious and offers specific advise regarding traveling to areas near the Algerian border.

“You should avoid travel in remote areas. We recommend you use a reputable tour operator for any travel into desert areas of Tunisia, especially near the Algerian border…”-(Read More)

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Tunisia

As Expats with the right awareness & attitude we can easily avoid the negatives and enjoy (as Kate shows us in the video below) the positive side of this beautiful mediterranean country.

FYI-Below are reported strikes planned for the month of May.  If you know of any other strikes please let us know:

May 2nd: Taxis

 May 2nd, 3rd, 4th: Carriers fuel

From May 3 to 10 company employees COFICAB

May 7: Employees laboratories of higher education

May 8: The National Television

8 and May 9: Supervisors teaching S and P

8 and May 9: Drivers of trains in Tunis

8 and May 9: Employees of municipalities Medenine

15 and May 16: Basic education

Before I start my week there are (2) types of forecasts that I am interested in:  

• Weekly temperature forecast 
  

  tunisia weather forecast April 29th

• Weekly security forecast 

 Although the regular weather forecast for this week is not particularly interesting; we need to pay attention to the security forecast.  

Expat Awareness

As in many other countries, Tunisia celebrates May 1st as Labor Day.  Last year many Tunisians celebrated Labour Day by marching from the Labor Union building to Habib Bourguiba.

This year there is a lot of chatter on social media sites, online news sites, and among everyday Tunisians concerning May 1st demonstrations.

According to an online news site (Kapitalis):

“On May 1, Labour Day, there will be no lilies in Tunisia, but the havoc. With increasing calls for protests against the government Ennahdha, from political parties, organizations or simple citizens coordination.”   (Translated from French)

Analysis

Apart from the major security breakdown on September 14, 2012 and the political assignation of Mr. Chokri Belaid the security trend regarding large scale protests/demonstrations usually goes like this:

Build up on social media sites + Calls to protest & threats / Met by prepared Tunisian Security forces which usually result in very minimal disturbances.

This year we anticipate more of the same activity especially on Avenue Habib Bourguiba (downtown Tunis) and Bardo (National Constituent Assembly).

Last year’s May Day Demonstrations

Moving Forward

Tunisia Security Update subscribers know the deal.  We know to avoid protests.  We know to monitor information (Facebook TS Update, Twitter @DavidSecurity, Blog).  We know about situational awareness and expat networking.

Since large scale disruptions & security breakdowns are way beyond the control of any individual expat; we need to adopt a strategic approach to our security setup.  Rather than depend on a particular plan we need to remain aware & connected.

During the next few days we’ll start seeing more and more negative news about May 1st and possible challenges ahead.  By staying informed and using practical personal security techniques we will not only worry less but also enjoy Tunisia more.

Let’s stay connected and keep the conversation going.