Fatma Mseddi, the Member of Parliament for Sfax in the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, reviewed, in an interview granted to the Tunisia Numérique correspondent in the region, several major projects planned or underway in Sfax, notably the extension of Taïeb Mhiri Stadium, the light metro, the north-south corridor, the sports city, and the regional hospital project in Gremda.
She also affirmed that, to her knowledge, no detailed list of projects selected under the Development Plan 2026-2030 had been transmitted to the region’s deputies, to the Sfax governorate, or to regional authorities.
The information below is based on the deputy’s statements. Web research being unavailable in this conversation, they could not be independently verified with the relevant administrations.
Extension of Taïeb Mhiri Stadium and digital library
Fatma Mseddi indicated that the city of Sfax is currently monitoring the preparations related to the Taïeb Mhiri Stadium extension project, with a view to its implementation.
She also mentioned the digital library project, placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, which, according to her, has faced several blockages.
According to the deputy, the ministry is currently working on a new design for the project to allow its relaunch.
Light metro: more than 20 years of waiting
The light metro of Sfax remains one of the main dossiers mentioned by the deputy. According to her, this project has remained “on paper” for more than 20 years.
Fatma Mseddi explained that she had sent written questions to the Ministry of Transport and to the Presidency of the Government. The responses received reportedly presented the project as a government priority, a claim she believes has not yet been translated into real action on the ground.
She also stated that the project currently lacks either a full-time general manager or an autonomous company led by a permanent head.
According to her statements, supervision of the project was initially entrusted to the regional director of Equipment before passing to the general director of the Sfax Regional Transport Company, awaiting the appointment of a general director.
The deputy also says that the Ministry of Transport told her the project could start within a few months if the necessary decisions were made. She also mentioned new avenues of thought, including the possibility of an aerial metro.
Mseddi advocates, for her part, procedures that would speed up the project after several years of blockage.
North-South entry: announced restart of works in October
Regarding the north-south entry of Sfax, the deputy revisited the works on the Habbana road and the difficulties encountered with the company in charge of the project, whose contract was terminated.
According to the information she provided, a new contractor has been designated and the works on the first lot should resume in October.
This first tranche is to connect Sidi Mansour to the Casino entrance.
Fatma Mseddi added that the Equipment services estimate the duration needed to complete this lot at one to two years.
Sports city: two sites and a significant cost gap raised
The deputy devoted a significant portion of her interview to the Sfax sports city project, which she says she is following closely as it was part of her electoral program.
She explained that the Hakouna site had been considered to host the project. However, according to the estimates she says she consulted or that circulate among the concerned administrations, the cost on this site could reach about “1,500 million dinars,” mainly due to infrastructure needs.
She specifically notes the lack of sufficient connections to electricity, gas, and water networks.
This amount is the figure reported by the deputy in the interview and could not be independently verified.
Thyna land: a judicial dossier ongoing
Fatma Mseddi also indicated that she had reopened the file on a plot of land located near the military hospital in the Thyna delegation, which would have been intended for the sports city since 2007.
She says she has identified elements she describes as “irregularities” and “suspicions” regarding the conditions of the transfer of ownership of this plot.
The deputy claims to have presented to Parliament documents, attestations, and pieces relating to this dossier.
These statements are the deputy’s and do not in themselves establish the existence of an offense or the liability of a person.
According to Fatma Mseddi, the Minister of State Domains and Lands Affairs transmitted the dossier to the public prosecutor after reviewing the elements she had presented. The case would then have passed through an investigative unit in El Aouina, and then to the Public Prosecutor in Sfax.
She says it is now before an investigating judge in Sfax and that an acceleration of its examination had been announced to her.
A cheaper sports city in Thyna?
Fatma Mseddi believes that a potential recovery of the land by the State, following the judicial procedures, could allow building the sports city there at a considerably lower cost.
She suggests an amount not exceeding “200 million dinars,” due in particular to the proximity of networks, major roads, and the highway.
Again, this is an estimate given by the deputy and not independently verified.
A regional hospital planned in Gremda
The deputy also announced that the project for a regional hospital in Gremda had been approved after several procedures conducted, according to her, with the authorities concerned.
She stressed that South Sfax does not have a first-line hospital meeting the needs of the area.
According to Fatma Mseddi, the Ministry of Health confirmed the inclusion of the project in the Development Plan 2026-2030. She says she now awaits the forthcoming start of the studies.
A plot allocated since 1995 still at the center of discussions
The deputy also mentioned a plot made available to the Interior Ministry by the municipality of Gremda since 1995, initially intended to house a National Guard post.
According to her, the facility was never built and the land was not recovered by the municipality.
Fatma Mseddi says she asked the Ministry of Interior about this dossier. It reportedly replied that a study was planned for the creation of a traffic guard post in the area.
A new administrative organization proposed for Sfax
The deputy also indicated that some Sfax elected officials proposed reorganizing certain regional administrations, notably in the Equipment and Health sectors.
The aim would be, according to them, to facilitate administrative functioning and bring services closer to citizens.
A letter is said to have been sent to the Presidency of the Government, and the deputies are now awaiting a response.
Plan 2026-2030: Mseddi deplores the absence of a detailed list
Fatma Mseddi finally returned to the Development Plan 2026-2030, stating that she has no detailed list of projects specifically scheduled for the Sfax governorate.
According to her, this list is not available from the region’s deputies, nor from the governor, delegates, or other regional authorities.
She criticized in this context what she regards as a lack of communication and transparency from the government in handling several dossiers.
