Tunisia Protests Five Years of Saied's Rule Amid Crisis

Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, and several other cities were the scenes of large‑scale demonstrations on Monday, as citizens marched to protest the fifth anniversary of President Kais Saied’s rule. The rallies, organized by opposition parties and civil‑society groups, called for an end to the president’s emergency powers, the release of political prisoners and a return to democratic governance. Police and security forces responded with tear gas and batons, and dozens of protesters were detained, according to local media reports.

The protests come amid a deepening economic crisis that has left many Tunisians struggling with soaring inflation, high unemployment and a mounting public‑debt burden. Saied’s administration has been accused of stifling dissent and curtailing press freedom, while his 2021 constitutional amendments expanded presidential authority and dissolved the parliament. Opposition leaders, who have been arrested on charges ranging from incitement to terrorism to corruption, have warned that the crackdown threatens the country’s democratic institutions.

The demonstrations signal growing public discontent with Saied’s governance, as the country faces a fragile economy and a polarized political landscape. While the government has called for calm and pledged to address economic grievances, the protests are likely to continue until the president’s emergency decrees are lifted and political prisoners are released.