Tunisian President Kais Saied decided Friday to extend the state of emergency throughout the country for six months.

"President Saied decided to extend the state of emergency in the entire territory of the republic for a period of six months, starting from Dec. 26, 2020 until June 23, 2021," said a presidency statement without giving further details.

The state of emergency in Tunisia was first declared on Nov. 24, 2015, following a deadly bomb attack on a bus of the presidential guards, killing 12 people.