Thread by @rhizomyx

I would take this with a grain of salt. This is a Qatari propaganda outlet that has repeatedly engaged in the spreading of disinformation about Tunisia in recent years. Without evidence, the article is relaying rumours which originated in pro-Qatar circles that Kais Saied

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1420492966049853441

received support from 300 Egyptian security officers dispatched by Sisi. Those officers, according to the article, assaulted PM Mechichi in the Presidential Palace. I find it really hard to believe. Not the least because Mechichi is not the kind of guy who'd oppose any resistance

but also because I don't see why President Saied who commands the Tunisian Armed Forces, a sizeable, well-trained and equipped Presidential Guard, and has gained some moral authority over the Ministry of Interior would need 300 Egyptian thugs.

This should be situated within the wider context of a proxy conflict between the Qatar-Turkey axis and the UAE-Egypt axis over North Africa, which plays out in the media space in the form of influence/disinformation operations, using bots, useful idiots, paid think-tankers,

journalists and affiliated media outlets. Each side has been framing what's been happening in Tunisia as the work of their opponents. They are indeed trying to meddle. But as explained in the latest @CrisisGroup paper:

"In reality, though, domestic factors offer a better explanation for the recent developments than regional politics. While in the past external actors have interfered with and aggravated pre-existing tensions, the current crisis owes more to deteriorating living conditions and..

... political deadlock than to the role of outside players."

crisisgroup.org/middle-east-no…

As expected, PM @MechichiHichem has denied @davidahearst's claims. He has not been assaulted and has retaine his freedom, including the freedom to interact with the press. The Middle East Eye could have checked with him. businessnews.com.tn/hiem-meii-deme…

It's about time the many serious and honest freelancers writing for the MEE boycotted this most despicable propaganda outlet. They're using them as useful idiots who lend their credibility to MEE while Hearst spreads his propaganda and disinformation.