The Tunisian government has officially authorised the merger of two major state-owned media companies, Dar Assabah and SNIPE-La Presse, in a bid to rescue and restructure the struggling public press sector.
Prime Minister Sara Zafraani chaired a ministerial working session on 13 December 2025, where the decision was made to transfer all shares of Dar Assabah to SNIPE-La Presse for a nominal dinar. The move follows directives from President Kais Saied, who had previously visited the companies and called for their restructuring and salvation as part of the national media memory.
The session resulted in several key outcomes, including the authorisation for SNIPE-La Presse to acquire all shares of Dar Assabah. Futhermore, the government provided approval for SNIPE-La Presse to proceed with the merger process by absorbing Dar Assabah in accordance with applicable legislation.
A mandate was also issued for a comprehensive restructuring programme designed to improve performance, ensure the continuity of publications, and implement the digital transformation of operations and archives.
The PM emphasised that this action is designed to find a radical solution that preserves the companies’ continuity and employee rights while enhancing operational efficiency and competitiveness in the print media sector. The goal is to build a more sustainable institution capable of future development and enriching the national media landscape.
