The Limits of Salafists in Tunisia

On Oct. 4, the administration of Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki extended the state of emergency in Tunisia until Oct. 31 to ensure the security of diplomatic missions. Two days earlier, Marzouki called Tunisian Salafist group Ansar al-Sharia a "cancer," according to Al-Hayat news agency, and later expressed concern about militant threats present in southern Libya and Algeria.

A prolonged militant threat similar to that faced in Egypt, Algeria or Libya is unlikely to take root in Tunisia due to the nature of the country's political transition in 2011 and to its unique geography. However, the ability of politically minded Salafist groups to incite violent riots gives the Islamists leverage in the Tunisian political arena — an enduring concern for the country's fledgling government as it attempts to navigate economic and political challenges ahead.