Hundreds Protest in Tunisia Over Economic Crisis and President Kais Saied

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tunis on Thursday to call for the ousting of President Kais Saied and the restoration of democracy. The demonstrations follow a similar protest on July 25, which marked the anniversary of Saied's 2021 dismissal of the government and subsequent suspension of parliament. Protesters expressed rejection of one man rule and a slide towards dictatorship, while urging the release of jailed activists, journalists, and opposition figures.

Public anger is driven by a combination of political and economic grievances. Demonstrators highlighted a catastrophic situation involving deteriorating public services, shortages of basic goods and medicines, and specific crises regarding drinking water and electricity outages. Former lawmaker Samir Ben Amor told AFP that there is no water, no electricity, and no freedom. The Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights reported hundreds of protests across the country in recent weeks, primarily targeting water and power shortages.

Rights groups accuse Saied of presiding over a broad crackdown on civil society and using the judiciary to suppress opponents. This includes the dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council and the prosecution of critics under a 2022 law prohibiting the spreading of false news. President Saied has denied these accusations of political repression, stating that he is enforcing the law and pursuing individuals suspected of financial corruption or conspiring against the state.

Center left sources frame the events as a complete collapse of the state and a systemic slide toward dictatorship. Center sources frame the protests as a reflection of growing pressure on the president and a sign of the opposition's ability to mobilize despite internal divisions.