Thousands march in Tunis against Saied over living costs and political freedoms
The UGTT labour federation joined opposition and civil society groups in one of the largest demonstrations against Tunisia’s president in years.
Thousands of Tunisians marched through central Tunis on Saturday, October 17, in what AFP and Reuters described as the largest protest against President Kais Saied in years. Led by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) and civil society groups, the demonstration brought together opponents of his rule over rising living costs and restrictions on political freedoms.
The march followed Habib Bourguiba Avenue, a central street that was also a focal point of the 2011 protests. Hundreds of police were deployed in the capital, and several surrounding roads were closed. AFP reported that more than 3,000 people took part, although Al Jazeera said the total could not be independently confirmed.
What protesters demanded in Tunis
Opposition parties from across the political spectrum joined lawyers, doctors, journalists, unemployed people and union members. Demonstrators called for detained government critics to be released and for restrictions on trade union rights to end. Placards reading ‘No democracy without freedoms’ and ‘No dignity with poverty’ joined chants about hunger and crowded prisons.
Yassine Gharseli, who travelled from Sfax, about 250 kilometres south of Tunis, described recurring water and power cuts to Reuters. ‘I came from Sfax to stand up for my freedom and I'm not ready to give up, even if I become the last voice in the country,’ he said, according to the Reuters report republished by The Straits Times.
Economic hardship and Saied’s expanded powers
The demonstration comes amid prolonged economic difficulties, deteriorating public services and shortages of medicines and other essentials. Al Jazeera reported that protesters had rallied in Tunis on August 20 over rising prices and shortages of basic goods. A union federation affiliated with the UGTT also led a two-day fuel transport workers’ strike over wages and working conditions last month.
Saied suspended parliament and dismissed the government in 2021, saying he was confronting corruption and political deadlock. He later dissolved parliament, and a new constitution increased presidential powers in 2022. Rights groups say his government has intensified a crackdown on civil society, journalists and opposition figures. Saied rejects the description of himself as a dictator and has accused opponents of engineering economic crises to fuel unrest, Reuters reported.
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Sources and context
- Thousands rally for biggest protest in years against Tunisia’s SaiedAl Jazeera; reporting credited to AFP and Reuters
- Tunisians stage biggest protest in years against President SaiedReuters, republished by The Straits Times
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.