Tunisian MP Aymen Ben Salah Says Nationality‑Code Revision Debate Misunderstands Current Law
Date: Friday, 6 March 2026
In an interview with Radio Mosaïque, Aymen Ben Salah, a deputy in the Assembly of the People’s Representatives, argued that the controversy surrounding the proposed amendment to the Tunisian Nationality Code stems from a misreading of the existing legislation.
Current law vs. proposed changes
- Current Code: Grants Tunisian nationality after five years of residence, subject to specific conditions.
- Proposed amendment: Extends the residency requirement to ten years with the aim of restricting naturalisation, particularly for irregular migrants who are arriving in Tunisia in numbers the government deems “concerning”.
Key articles targeted for revision
The draft amendment would modify several core provisions:
| Article(s) | Main focus of the amendment |
|---|---|
| 8, 9, 10, 20 | General conditions for acquiring nationality |
| 38 bis | Specific rules for children born on Tunisian soil to a non‑Tunisian father |
Specific changes include:
- Limiting the definition of “children concerned” to newborns only.
- Stating that such children will be considered Tunisian only if their paternal lineage is not established.
- Introducing a clause that revokes nationality if the child holds another citizenship.
Ben Salah noted that the text could still evolve after hearings with the relevant stakeholders.
Political context
The deputy praised his colleagues who initiated and supported the proposal, describing them as the “only body that has brought this issue to the table.” According to Ben Salah, the goal is to protect Tunisia from pressure to naturalise irregular migrants and to take preventive measures against the arrival of individuals whose intentions are unknown.
He also expressed surprise that no revision has been made to the visa decree, which currently exempts several African countries from visa requirements.
Further reading
Access to nationality: a new bill submitted to Parliament
Source: La Presse (Tunisia), 1 March 2026.
