Tunisia: Thousands Protest Saied's 'One-Man Rule,' Demand Democracy Amid Crackdown on Rights

Tunisians Rally Against President Saied's Authoritarian Rule, Demand Democracy

Thousands of Tunisians recently converged in the capital city of Tunis, voicing their fervent opposition to what they describe as President Kais Saied's authoritarian grip on power. The mass demonstration, marked by chants against “injustice and repression,” underscored a deepening political and economic crisis in the North African nation.

A Unified Call for Freedom

Protesters, many clad in black to symbolize their grief and anger, marched through Tunis, holding banners that boldly declared, “Enough repression” and “The streets belong to the people.” This unified display of dissent saw activists, NGOs, and various political factions come together, presenting a significant challenge to Saied, who assumed extensive powers in 2021 and has since ruled by decree.

Broader Discontent Across Sectors

This latest protest is part of a broader wave of discontent sweeping across Tunisia, encompassing diverse groups from journalists and doctors to bankers and public transport workers. In a separate but related movement, thousands have also demanded the closure of a chemical plant, citing pressing environmental concerns.

Participants loudly chanted slogans like “We are suffocating!” and “Enough of tyranny!”, reflecting the palpable frustration with the current state of affairs. Ezzedine Hazgui, father of an imprisoned politician, Jawhar Ben Mbark, emotionally told Reuters that Saied has transformed Tunisia into an “open prison,” asserting that the people would not concede.

Allegations of Crackdown and Eroding Freedoms

Critics, including opposition parties, civil society groups, and journalists, accuse President Saied of systematically deploying the judiciary and police to quash dissenting voices. Recent actions, such as the suspension of three prominent civil rights groups over alleged foreign funding and Amnesty International’s alarm over an escalating crackdown on 14 NGOs—involving arbitrary arrests, detentions, and asset freezes—lend weight to these accusations.

Opponents further point to Saied's dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council in 2022 and the subsequent dismissal of dozens of judges as definitive steps that eroded judicial independence, branding these moves as a “coup.” With many opposition leaders and critics currently detained, Saied staunchly refutes claims of dictatorial rule, maintaining that his actions are aimed at “cleansing” Tunisia of “traitors.”