Tunisia experiences widespread water and electricity shortages in summer

Frequent water and power outages, long queues for bottled water and the destruction of poultry farms by extreme heat have marked the summer across Tunisia, affecting millions of residents. The shortages have disrupted daily life and strained essential services, prompting widespread concern among the population and observers alike.

Local analysts attribute the crisis to years of underinvestment in the country’s electricity and water infrastructure, which they say left the system vulnerable to the soaring temperatures and increased demand. The deteriorating networks have struggled to cope, leading to prolonged blackouts, water rationing and the collapse of agricultural operations dependent on reliable utilities.

President Kais Saied, however, has rejected the infrastructure narrative, describing the disruptions as the result of “deliberate and planned acts of sabotage.” The divergent explanations underscore ongoing tensions over responsibility for the nation’s utility challenges as authorities seek solutions to restore stable water and power supplies.