Sayida Ounissi

Sayida Ounissi (born 3 February 1987) is a Tunisian former politician who represented the party of Ennahdha. She was Secretary of State for Vocational Training from 2016 to 2018 and Minister for Employment and Vocational Training from 2018 until the coup and dissolution of parliament by Kais Saied in June 2021.

Early life and education Ounissi was born in Tunis on 3 February 1987. She has one sister and three brothers. and left Tunisia in 1993 to escape President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime.

Ounissi attended the Petet Val secondary school in Sucy-en-Brie in Paris. She graduated from the Sorbonne University with a degree in history and political science in 2008 and with a master's degree in economic and social development in 2011. Her thesis title is "The implementation of social policies and the coercive role of the state." She sat on the Committees of Finance, Planning and Development and of Martyrs and Wounded of the Revolution. During the Bardo National Museum attack on 18 March 2015, she was tweeting live updates detailing the panic and evacuation.

On 20 August 2016, Ounissi was appointed to the Executive Board as Secretary of State for Vocational Training in charge of private initiative in the coalition government of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and as international spokesperson.

On 5 November 2018, Ounissi was promoted to Minister for Employment and Vocational Training. She continued to serve in the Assembly until its suspension and dissolution by Kais Saied in 2021. She has opposed the policies of Saied, joining demonstrations of the National Salvation Front created by Ahmed Najib Chebbi. In September 2021, she hosted a delegation from the American Congress, but in 2022 said she was no longer allowed to leave Tunisian territory.

Personal life Ounissi is an Islamist and wears a hijab. She also considers herself a feminist. She attended the El-Fath mosque until the Salafists took possession of it. She became engaged to marry in August 2016.

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