Event Summary
On 23 December 2025, the Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), Noureddine Taboubi, announced his resignation, which had caused considerable uncertainty within the Tunisian trade union confederation as it was preparing for important events such as the general strike planned for 21 January 2026 and the congress in March 2026.
However, after several internal discussions and appeals from trade union leaders, he finally withdrew his resignation and officially resumed his duties on 14 January 2026. The withdrawal of his resignation reflects the desire to preserve the stability of the organisation and avoid a leadership vacuum at a critical moment. While reflecting Taboubi’s influence within the UGTT and the fear, shared by many union leaders, that an internal crisis would weaken the union’s ability to exert influence in social and national power relations.