Tunis // Tunisia’s security forces on Sunday called on the government to take “exceptional measures” to combat the return of citizens fighting for extremist groups abroad.
“The return of terrorists from hotbeds of unrest is worrying and could lead to the Somalisation of the country,” the internal security forces’ national union said, referring to the collapse of Somalia and its division into warring tribes and factions in the 1990s and the presence of Al Shabab extremists that threatens its recovery today.
Battle-hardened fighters “have received military training and have learnt to use all sorts of sophisticated weapons”, it said.
The warning came a day after Tunisian authorities said they had arrested three members of terrorist cell people including the nephew of Anis Amri, a Tunisian who had pledged allegiance to ISIL and who drove a lorry into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin last Monday, ki.
Tunisia has witnessed a number of extremists attacks since its 2011 revolution, including on foreign tourists, and the United Nations estimates there are more than 5,000 Tunisians fighting for extremist outfits, mainly in Iraq and Syria.
Hundreds of people gathered outside parliament in Tunis on Saturday to protest against letting these militants back in the country.
On Friday, interior minister Hedi Majdoub told parliament that 800 citizens who had fought for extremist groups abroad had since returned to the country.
President Beji Caid Essebsi said this month the government would refuse to pardon Tunisians who fought for extremist groups but could not stop them from coming home.
“Many of them want to return, and we can’t prevent a Tunisian from returning to his country,” he said, “but we will be vigilant.”
Following criticism in the press and on social media, Mr Essebsi later said “we will not be indulgent with the terrorists”.
* Agence France-Presse
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Fernando Jara (jockey), Irfan Ellahi (trainer).
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,400m
Winner: Yaalail, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh180,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Fernando Jara, Helal Al Alawi.
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2.200m
Winner: Ezz Al Rawasi, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
