The Insurgency in Tunisia’s Western Borderlands

Since the 2011 revolution, Tunisia has faced the difficult task of sustaining a democratic transition amid rising security challenges. Multiple terrorist attacks have killed foreign tourists, Tunisian civilians, and security personnel. Additionally, the conflict next door in Libya poses a persistent danger, a reality underscored in 2016 when militants with the self-proclaimed Islamic State staged a raid on a Tunisian city on the border. These dramatic incidents have largely overshadowed a more violent and protracted conflict in Tunisia’s northwestern governorates.

This article recounts the trajectory of the conflict in the northwest, analyzes current dynamics, and offers recommendations. Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the full article can be found here.