Madar (Tunis) - Tunisian President Kais Saied visited Siliana governorate in the north-west of the country on Sunday 8 November 2026 to mark National Tree Day, held this year under the slogan "A tree today, a forest tomorrow", Tunisian daily La Presse reported.
During the visit, Saied oversaw the planting of several trees in the Ain Ennechm area of the Bargou delegation and heard the social concerns and development needs raised by a number of local residents.
Discussions with residents focused in particular on the damage caused by recent forest fires on Jebel Bargou and on difficulties in accessing drinking water, the paper said.
The Tunisian president recalled the historical significance of Jebel Bargou, the scene from 8 to 13 November 1954 of battles fought by the national resistance against French colonial rule, known as the "battle of the last quarter of an hour".
Major fires swept through the area in late August and early September 2026, destroying more than 2,000 hectares of forest cover, mainly Aleppo pine forests and olive groves, with no deaths recorded, according to data from Siliana's regional agricultural development commission.
