Hatem Saïed… The Name That Must Not Be Spoken: Why Does Kaïs Hide His Brother?

Hatem Saïed… The Name That Must Not Be Spoken: Why Does Kaïs Hide His Brother?

While Tunisia is facing deep political and economic turmoil, questions are mounting around President Kaïs Saïed—not just about his political choices, but also about his private life and family. The mystery surrounding his brother Hatem Saïed and his sister Rim fuels growing public curiosity and controversy. Why the deliberate silence around members of the presidential family? What is Kaïs Saïed hiding from his people? This article seeks to analyze this opacity in connection with the current political situation, the role of political parties, and the possible impact of the presidential family on the national stage.

Kaïs Saïed’s Family Background

According to an article by Farida Dhamani, published in Jeune Afrique on February 28, 2024, Kaïs Saïed’s father, Mansaf Saïed, was a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance and placed great importance on the education of his children. All four siblings—Kaïs, Noufel, Hatem, and Rim—graduated from the Sadiki College, one of Tunisia’s most prestigious institutions. The father insisted that his children study law. Kaïs and Noufel followed this path, while Rim chose science. However, no verifiable information exists about Hatem’s academic or professional life, which raises questions about his conspicuous absence.

Who Is Hatem Saïed?

Hatem Saïed is the mysterious brother of the president. Unlike Noufel, who is publicly active in politics, there is no verifiable information about Hatem: no photos, no interviews, no public appearances. Rumors suggest he may have left Tunisia in the 1980s under unknown circumstances, but nothing has been confirmed. His complete disappearance is striking. Is it a personal decision? Or a strategic move by the president to keep him hidden?

Rim Saïed: The Forgotten Sister

Like Hatem, Rim remains out of the public eye. Aside from her academic background in science, nothing is known about her current role or influence in society. This silence strengthens the impression that Kaïs Saïed deliberately keeps her out of political affairs. Is it her own choice to protect her privacy, or a form of enforced invisibility by the president?

Tunisia’s Political Situation

Since Kaïs Saïed’s rise to power in 2019, Tunisia has experienced growing instability. Following his power grab on July 25, 2021—suspending parliament, drafting a new constitution that grants him absolute power, dismissing the government, abolishing the Constitutional Court, and enacting Decree 54 in 2022—accusations of authoritarianism have escalated. Political parties speak of a severe regression of democracy, while his supporters see him as a reformer returning power to the people.

The Role of Noufel Saïed

Noufel, the president’s brother, plays a central role. A professor of constitutional law, he was highly influential during Kaïs’s presidential campaign and helped select his advisers. Opponents see him as the true mastermind behind the presidency, with some alleging he governs behind the scenes along with the military and security services.

A Weakened President?

In political circles, whispers abound that Kaïs Saïed is either psychologically isolated or incapable of making decisions on his own. The opposition points to signs of erratic behavior to question his legitimacy. His speeches are increasingly viewed as hysterical and disconnected from reality, reinforcing this image.

A Tunisia on the Brink

Tunisia’s socio-economic situation is deteriorating: inflation, unemployment, shortages of basic goods. Despair is spreading among the population, which has lost trust in both the political parties and the state. Protests, like the recent one in Mazzouna, reflect public anger. Citizens, disillusioned with the political class, are seeking individual solutions far from politics.

An Algerian Mafia Behind Tunisia’s Power?

Some analysts claim Tunisia is now under the influence of a power network that serves the Algerian military, which is exploiting Tunisia’s fragility to expand its influence. They point to Algerian interference aimed at sabotaging Tunisia’s democratic experience since the fall of Ben Ali on January 14, 2011.

There are serious accusations against Algeria, including orchestrating attacks to derail Tunisia’s democratic transition or infiltrating institutions through former Ben Ali regime agents. The goal would be to bring Tunisia back under Algerian sway, essentially turning it into a de facto province, and to prevent democratic contagion from reaching Algeria.

The Case of Algerian Dissident Amir Boukhors (aka “Amir DZ”), who was abducted in April 2024 in France by agents disguised as French police officers, supports this theory. The investigation revealed involvement of individuals linked to an Algerian consulate. If Algeria can act with such impunity in France, what might it be doing in Tunisia?

An Algerian Project Behind Kaïs Saïed?

Some believe Kaïs Saïed’s rise to power is part of an Algerian plan to restore dictatorship in Tunisia under military supervision. The aim: to suppress Algerian democratic ambitions and reinforce Algerian geopolitical dominance in North Africa, especially in opposition to Morocco, by turning Tunisia into a political satellite.

The Role of Political Parties

Divided, weakened, and largely decapitated, Tunisia’s political parties have failed to offer a credible alternative. Ennahdha, once powerful, has seen its leaders imprisoned or exiled. The Democratic Current and the Free Destourian Party have tried to fill the void but haven’t succeeded in rallying enough support. The absence of a clear strategy has only strengthened presidential power, which now leans heavily on the military and judiciary.

With civil society suppressed, opposition figures jailed, business leaders accused of funding protests, and all dissenting voices silenced via Decree 54, political space is all but closed. Some political prisoners have even taken their own lives.

Why Investigate Kaïs Saïed’s Family?

Understanding Kaïs Saïed’s inner circle is key to decoding the power structure in Tunisia. Who is this president, whom some consider unhinged? What is the source of his legitimacy? Who is truly pulling the strings? What roles do the intelligence services and military play? And how independent is Tunisia from Algerian influence?

These are all legitimate questions Tunisians are asking in their search for truth—a truth still hidden. On the day this system collapses, light may finally be shed.

The Tunisian people deserve truth, freedom, and justice. Under Kaïs Saïed, Tunisia has hit rock bottom. It is time for every free Tunisian—whether citizen, soldier, or entrepreneur—to put aside their differences and join forces to bring Tunisia back to a democratic path.

The mystery surrounding figures like Hatem and Rim Saïed is merely a symptom of a broader lack of transparency. And with a president seen as weak and under the control of Noufel, despair is growing. The media blackout around the presidential family raises serious questions about governance and transparency.

If you have information about Hatem, Rim, or other members of the president’s inner circle, speak up.
The truth may be the first step toward Tunisia’s liberation.

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