Month: May 2025

From Habiba Msika to Saïda Sassi, The New Arab celebrates the influential women who risked everything for Tunisia’s independence, yet remain largely forgotten.

March 20 of this year marks the 69th anniversary of Tunisia’s independence from French colonialism, which lasted from 1881 until 1956.

This 75-year settlement, referred to as a ‘protectorate’ by French politicians of the time instead of an actual colony, was marked by numerous injustices and crimes against the local population.

Fighting for independence required both physical and mental stamina, along with a willingness to make sacrifices, in order to achieve a delicate and glorious goal that embodied the shared dream of the nation.

Although many people participated in and contributed to this struggle, history has only remembered a small minority of them.

Moreover, the collective memory of this history appears selective, favouring male activists, with Tunisia’s independence remaining, in the collective psyche, linked to figures such as Habib Bourguiba, the country’s first post-independence president, along with others like Tahar Sfar, Farhat Hached, and Chedly Khaznadar.

One way this selective memory was reinforced was through the mainstream educational system, where the version of events favored by those in power was taught to future generations.

Unfortunately, this narrative excluded many activists, including women, and minimised their roles in this significant historical event.

Game-changers in Tunisian history

That said, although women were marginalised, they were not entirely excluded.

Male politicians often used the names and histories of female activists to enhance their own image, both in Tunisia and abroad, in an effort to project an image of progressivism.

This was not difficult to achieve, as the advocacy of Tunisian female activists had always been closely tied to the defence of women’s rights.

For example, Bchira Ben Mrad, aside from her active participation in demonstrations against French colonialism, her financial and moral support to the families of activists imprisoned by the colonial authorities, and her close collaboration with nationalist leaders such as Habib Bourguiba, founded the Muslim Union of Tunisian Women (UMFT) in 1936.

The UMFT, the first Tunisian women’s organisation, aimed to mobilise Tunisian women in the fight for independence and promote their education and emancipation.

Although the UMFT no longer exists, it played a historic role during the struggle for Tunisian independence and in the first decades of the 20th century.

Bchira Ben Mrad, pictured second from the left [X @Arcdelahistori]

Through her work, Bchira established literacy and education programmes for women and organised courses to raise awareness of their rights and roles in society.

Her advocacy for women’s rights, especially their right to education, work, and political participation, played a key role in preparing Tunisian women to take active roles in society after independence.

Similarly, Radhia Haddad, an active member of the UMFT, was the first female representative in post-independence Tunisia.

She contributed to organising literacy classes and lectures to educate women and encourage them to join the struggle for independence.

Additionally, she worked to improve the living conditions of rural women and informed them about the national movement of resistance against the French.

Radhia Haddad, pictured second from the left [X @DiwanTunissi]

Another emblematic figure was Saïda Sassi, who also played a significant role in both the Tunisian nationalist and feminist movements.

During this time, she took part in demonstrations and protests, and was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured by the French colonial authorities.

Saïda also encouraged women to become involved in the nationalist movement and claim their place in Tunisian society. She also worked to improve the living conditions of women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Fight for independence and women’s rights already intertwined 

Ultimately, these women were pioneers who paved the way for Tunisian women’s involvement in various fields and their active participation in society.

Their contributions were so impactful that, for Tunisian women, playing an active role in society and being emancipated became ingrained in their culture and an unquestionable standard of life.

This argument is supported by Tunisian director Salma Baccar, who, in her 1994 film La Danse du feu (The Dance of Fire), depicted Tunisian singer Habiba Msika as an emancipated woman for her time in the 1920s.

In one symbolic scene, Habiba is seen on stage in a male-dominated café, preparing for her performance.

Habiba Msika was a Tunisian singer, dancer and actress [X @afikra]

Instead of her usual seductive attire, she wraps the Tunisian flag around her body and sings a poem calling for Tunisia’s independence to the male crowd, who cheer for her. The performance is quickly interrupted by the French police, who arrest Habiba.

This moment is highly symbolic, as it reflects the parallel struggles for independence and women’s rights, both of which were aimed at resisting the oppression of a higher authority.

In fact, Tunisia’s history demonstrates that the fight for independence from French colonialism and the advocacy for women’s rights were intertwined from the very beginning.

When both causes were championed together, efforts were strengthened, and positive results were achieved, as both movements aimed to challenge injustice.

[Cover photo: Habiba Msika (X @historicwomens)]

Tharwa Boulifi is a Tunisian freelancer who writes about feminism, human rights, and social justice. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Newsweek, the New African, and African Arguments

Follow her on X: @TharwaBoulifi

source/content: newarab.com (headline edited)

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TUNISIA

BUILDING LASTING PROSPERITY FOR AMERICA AND OUR ALLIES: Today in Abu Dhabi, President Donald J. Trump announced over $200 billion in commercial deals between the United States and the United Arab Emirates—bringing the total of investment agreements in the Gulf region to over $2 trillion.

• President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people, enhancing market access for American exporters to strengthen our economic and national security.
• These deals will significantly expand investment in the United States and U.S. market access in the United Arab Emirates.
• The following represent just a few of the many transformative deals secured in the United Arab Emirates:
  • Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 American-made Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft powered by GE engines. With the inclusion of the next-generation 777X in its fleet plan, the investment deepens the longstanding commercial aviation partnership between the UAE and the United States, fueling American manufacturing, driving exports, and supporting 60,000 U.S. jobs.
  • In Oklahoma, Emirates Global Aluminum will invest to develop a $4 billion primary aluminum smelter project, one of the first new aluminum smelters in America in 45 years, that will create a thousand jobs in America, strengthen critical mineral supply chains, and double current U.S. production capacity.
  • In line with President Trump’s executive order to unleash American energy leadership worldwide, ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources are partnering with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for expanded oil and natural gas production valued at $60 billion that will help lower energy costs and create hundreds of skilled jobs in both countries.
  • RTX is partnering with Emirates Global Aluminum and the UAE’s Tawazun Council on a pioneering Gallium project that will help secure and stabilize the United States’ critical mineral supply chain. By diversifying sources of this essential input for semiconductors and defense technologies, the partnership strengthens America’s supply security, supports high-tech manufacturing, and creates jobs across the U.S. critical minerals and defense industrial base.
  • Qualcomm is expanding its global innovation footprint through partnerships with ADIO and e&.  A new Global Engineering Center in Abu Dhabi will focus on AI, data centers, and industrial IoT – advancing the UAE’s digital transformation while supporting U.S. research, engineering jobs and demand for American technologies.  Meanwhile, the collaboration with e& accelerates the deployment of advanced connectivity, edge AI, and cloud computing solutions.  Together, these efforts strengthen Qualcomm’s leadership in critical technologies, fuel U.S high-tech job creation, and bolster America’s economic and national security. 
  • Amazon Web Services, e&, and the UAE Cybersecurity Council have launched a Sovereign Cloud Launchpad to accelerate public cloud services adoption in the UAE.  The initiative is expected to contribute $181 billion to the UAE’s digital economy by 2033 and includes a new UAE cybersecurity technology Innovation center. This collaboration expands demand for U.S.–developed cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity technologies, supporting high-skilled jobs in the United States and reinforcing U.S. leadership in secure digital innovation globally.
• These deals lay the foundation for investment, innovation and good-paying U.S. jobs, including in frontier technologies, aerospace, energy, and critical minerals.
• Today’s deals strengthen the U.S.-UAE investment and trade relationship and build on the UAE’s landmark commitment to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework that will contribute to the U.S. boom in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, quantum computing, biotechnology, and manufacturing.
  • The U.S. and UAE signed an AI agreement today that supports the $1.4 trillion investment commitment secured in March. This includes the UAE committing to invest in, build, or finance U.S. data centers that are at least as large and as powerful as those in the UAE. The agreement also contains historic commitments by the UAE to further align their national security regulations with the United States, including strong protections to prevent the diversion of U.S.-origin technology.
  • The U.S.-UAE AI agreement strengthens bilateral investment partnerships, ensuring U.S. security interests and dominance in AI while extending the American tech stack to an important strategic partner. 

ACCELERATING TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP:  The strategic partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates has spanned decades and supported the prosperity and security of Americans and Emiratis. This partnership encompasses strategic cooperation in defense, trade, energy, space and diplomacy, reflecting shared interests and mutual respect.

• This partnership is particularly significant thanks to the historic achievement of the Abraham Accords announced during President Trump’s first term.
• The UAE stands as a significant commercial partner for the United States in the Middle East.  Bilateral trade and investment have flourished, with the UAE serving as a hub for American businesses seeking opportunities in the region.
  • The UAE had $35 billion in foreign direct investments in the United States, supporting over 33,000 American jobs in 2023.
  • U.S. total goods trade with the UAE was an estimated $34.4 billion in 2024, with a U.S. trade surplus of $19.5 billion, the third largest in the world.
• President Trump’s historic visit to the United Arab Emirates is another opportunity to welcome new partnerships in frontier technologies, health and life sciences, mobility, entertainment, and many other fields.

NEVER TIRED OF WINNING: President Trump keeps scoring great deals for the American people, securing over $2 trillion in investment agreements with Middle Eastern nations for a more safe and prosperous future.

The $200 billion UAE deals build on the $600 billion in Saudi Arabia and $1.2 trillion in Qatar the President secured on behalf of the American people.
This comes days after President Trump announced the U.S.-UK trade agreement and a joint agreement with China in pursuit of more fair, reciprocal trade that grows good-paying jobs and prosperity in America.
While it took President Biden nearly four years to secure $1 trillion in investments, President Trump achieved this in his first month, with additional investment commitments continuing to roll in.
President Trump is accelerating investment in America and securing fair trade deals around the world, paving the way for a new Golden Age of lasting prosperity for generations to come.

source/content: whitehouse.gov (headline edited)

MAKING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION GREAT AGAIN: Today in Qatar, President Donald J. Trump signed an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion. President Trump also announced economic deals totaling more than $243.5 billion between the United States and Qatar, including an historic sale of Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways.   

• The landmark deals celebrated today will drive innovation and prosperity for generations, bolster American manufacturing and technological leadership, and put America on the path to a new Golden Age.
• Since President Trump took office, his commitment to American manufacturing and innovation has attracted trillions of dollars in investments and global commercial deals. Allies like Qatar are partnering in the United States’ success. 
• The following represent just a few of the many groundbreaking deals secured in Qatar:
  • Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a landmark order from Qatar Airways, a $96 billion agreement to acquire up to 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines. This is Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order. This historic agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal.
  • McDermott has a strong partnership with Qatar Energy in advancing critical energy infrastructure, with seven active projects worth $8.5 billion. As the sole provider of offshore components for Qatar’s major LNG expansion, McDermott’s work directly supports thousands of U.S. energy sector jobs.
  • Parsons has successfully won 30 projects worth up to $97 billion. These high-value engagements have fueled significant company growth, supporting thousands of jobs across the United States and reinforcing American leadership in cutting-edge engineering and innovation.
  • Quantinuum finalized a Joint Venture Agreement with Al Rabban Capital, a prominent Qatari company. Qatar will invest up to $1 billion in state-of-the-art quantum technologies and workforce development provided by the Joint Venture, supporting U.S. and Qatari jobs and leadership in this critical emerging technology.  
• Today’s signings mark President Trump’s intent to accelerate Qatar’s defense investment in the U.S.-Qatar security  partnership—enhancing regional deterrence and benefitting the U.S. industrial base.
  • The defense deals secured today lock in Qatar’s procurement of state-of-the-art military equipment from two leading U.S. defense companies.
  • Raytheon, an RTX business, secured a $1 billion agreement for Qatar’s acquisition of counter-drone capabilities, signed by the U.S. and Qatari governments. This deal establishes Qatar as the first international customer for Raytheon’s Fixed Site – Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS) designed to counter unmanned aircraft. The deal directly supports high-skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs in the United States and reinforces America’s leadership in innovative defense technologies.
  • General Atomics secured a nearly $2 billion agreement for Qatar’s acquisition of the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system, signed by the U.S. and Qatari governments. This deal will strengthen the U.S.-Qatar bilateral relationship and provide the Qatari Armed Forces with the most advanced multi-mission remotely piloted aircraft in the world, powered by U.S. products made in America.
  • The United States and Qatar also signed a statement of intent to further strengthen our security partnership, outlining over $38 billion in potential investments including support for burden-sharing at Al Udeid Air Base and future defense capabilities related to air defense and maritime security.
• These new agreements and instruments aim to drive the growth of the U.S.-Qatar bilateral commercial relationship, create thousands of well-paying jobs, and open new trade and investment opportunities for both countries over the coming decade and beyond.

CATALYZING PROSPERITY THROUGH GREATER TRADE AND INVESTMENT: The United States and Qatar have a long history of trade and a strong commercial relationship, including significant long-term aviation, critical infrastructure, information technology, and consulting deals. 

• Qatar’s strategic goals outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030 create opportunities for U.S. businesses in multiple sectors.
• The United States had a $2 billion trade surplus with Qatar in 2024 and has had a positive trade balance with Qatar since 2003.
  • In 2024, U.S.-Qatar trade totaled $5.64 billion, with $3.8 billion in U.S. exports and $1.8 billion in Qatari imports.
  • Qatar’s greenfield investment in the United States totaled $3.3 billion in 2023, focused on hotels and tourism, information technology, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and oil and gas.
• This visit advances opportunities for U.S. companies to expand long-standing partnerships and for Qatari entities to embrace U.S. technologies, adopt best practices, and finalize new agreements for significant sales and investments.
  • Qatar has made significant investments in the United States across hotels and tourism, financial services, technology, healthcare, and energy, with plans to invest even more over the next five years. These investments strengthen the U.S. economy by supporting good-paying jobs for millions of American workers, expanding U.S. exports, and funding research and development. 
  • Qatar has the third largest proven reserves of natural gas in the world, and has invested in American energy infrastructure, directly contributing to U.S. energy security and industrial resilience.
  • Starting in 2019, QatarEnergy initiated $18 billion in investments in the U.S. energy sector with ExxonMobil’s Golden Pass LNG Terminal ($10 billion) and Chevron Phillips Chemical’s Golden Triangle Polymers Plant ($8 billion), both located on the Texas Gulf Coast.
• Qatar is our 12th largest Foreign Military Sales partner with active cases valued at more than $26 billion.
• Qatar’s expansive investment in and trade with the United States contribute to U.S. and Qatari economic growth and prosperity, and Qatar’s choice of U.S. industry’s best-fit solutions supports the U.S. strategic goal of growing our industrial presence throughout the Gulf and the region as a whole.   

THE ART OF THE DEAL: President Trump is securing billions in investments to revitalize American manufacturing, delivering on his promise to bring back “Made in America” and usher in a new Golden Age of prosperity.

• Today’s announcement builds on yesterday’s $600 billion investment commitment secured in Saudi Arabia.
• It also follows the announcement of an historic trade agreement with the United Kingdom and a joint agreement with China to reduce reciprocal tariffs. 
• By securing these investments, President Trump is spurring a manufacturing renaissance, driving economic growth, and creating high-paying jobs across the nation.
• Prior to this historic deal, President Trump had already attracted trillions in U.S.-based investments, laying the foundation for an era of unprecedented American prosperity.
• President Trump is building on his record of success with Qatar, exemplified by his leadership in the 2019 GE Aerospace GEnx engine sale to power Qatar Airways’ then-newly acquired Boeing 787-9 aircraft—a monumental purchase in the history of both companies.
• As the dealmaker in chief, President Trump’s latest achievement in Qatar is another win for America.

source/content: whitehouse.gov (headline edited)