Who runs local government in Tunisia?
Tunisia's local government was rebuilt after President Kais Saied's 2022 Constitution. In March 2023 he dissolved all 350 elected municipal councils, and municipalities have since been run by appointed special delegations or their secretaries-general. A new chain of councils was created instead: 279 elected local councils (December 2023–February 2024), regional councils filled by lot from local councillors, and a National Council of Regions and Districts that acts as Parliament's second chamber.
Republic of Tunisia · Unitary presidential republic (2022 Constitution) · Northern Africa
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Districts (aqalim, 5) | District councils made up of representatives of the regional councils in the district | Groups of governorates for development planning; each sends one member to the national council. |
| Governorates (24) | Governor (wali) appointed by the President; regional council made up of local councillors chosen by lot, with membership rotating every three months | The governor runs state administration; the regional council feeds into development plans and elects three members to the National Council of Regions and Districts. |
| Delegations / local councils (279) | Members elected one per imada (smallest area) in individual-candidate elections, plus one seat for a person with disabilities chosen by lot | Propose local development needs; they are not municipalities and do not run services. |
| Municipalities (350) | Elected councils dissolved in March 2023; run by appointed special delegations or the municipal secretary-general | Local services such as waste, roads and permits, with limited budget room. |
Three questions about local power in Tunisia
Are local leaders elected?
Local councillors are elected in single-member imadas. Regional councillors are chosen by lot from among them, and the national council is elected by regional and district councillors. Governors and municipal special delegations are appointed; no municipal councils are elected at present.
Which laws set up local government?
All these bodies are in the 2022 Constitution (Article 133 and Articles 81–83) and decree-laws. The 2018 Local Authorities Code still exists but conflicts with the new design.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Local councillors face voters. Appointed officials answer to the Interior Ministry and the President.
Traditional and customary authority
There are no recognised hereditary or tribal leaders in local government. Tribal and family ties still matter in parts of the south and interior, for example in local elections and land use. Religious life is overseen by the state: imams in mosques are appointed and supervised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Community and neighbourhood power
Before 2023, the 2018 Local Authorities Code required municipalities to consult residents and run participatory budgeting. Civil society associations remain active but the formal channels for neighbourhood participation in municipal decisions are weaker while councils are suspended. The imada, a small rural or urban area, is now the basic electoral unit for local councils.
Points to know
- Turnout in the December 2023 local council election was about 11.8%, and about 12.5% in the February 2024 second round.
- Chairs and memberships of regional councils change every three months by public draw run by the electoral body, ISIE.
- In May 2018 Tunisia held its first municipal elections since the 2011 revolution, and by 2021 its 350 municipalities covered the whole country for the first time.
Local terms
- Imada
- The smallest administrative area; now each elects one local councillor.
- Special delegation
- An appointed body running a municipality after its elected council was dissolved.
- National Council of Regions and Districts
- Parliament's second chamber, made up of members chosen by regional and district councils.
Sources
- Tunisia's Constitution of 2022, Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Country profile: Tunisia (SNG-WOFI, 2022 edition), OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment (SNG-WOFI), checked 14 October 2026
- Local council elections 2023 (results and statistics), Instance Supérieure Indépendante pour les Élections (ISIE), checked 14 October 2026
- Periodic draw for local council representatives on regional councils (2024–2026), Instance Supérieure Indépendante pour les Élections (ISIE), checked 14 October 2026
See also: Tunisia's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.