Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi Dies Aged 92

Tunisia’s first and longest-serving President Beji Caid Essebsi, has died earlier on Thursday.

Naija News learnt that the office of the Tunisian president announced the death of the world’s oldest sitting president.

Essebsi was a major player in the country’s transition to democracy since 2011.

Mr Essebsi was also admitted to hospital last month after suffering what officials said was a “severe health crisis”.

They gave no further details. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who visited him in hospital, urged people to stop spreading “fake news” about his condition.

Former Tunisian President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali was ousted in 2011 after 23 years in office.

Since then, Tunisia has won praise as the only democracy to emerge from the revolutions of the so-called Arab spring.