Thousands rally in Tunis calling for end of president’s rule

Thousands of Tunisians in protest took to the streets of the capital, Tunis, to demand the resignation of President Kais Saied, as reported by Africa News, on July 26th.

Demonstrators on the street held signs reading “Get out,” “Game Over” and “Only Kaïs remains happy,” while chanting slogans aimed against the president and his actions. 

The protest came as the country marked five years since Saied suspended parliament and later dissolved it in order to rule by decree. The protesters were denouncing the worsening living conditions, democratic backsliding, and the broader mismanagement of the state. President Kais Saied has been in power since 2019 yet the suspension of the parliament took place in 2021, in a move that has been widely considered as a self-coup. 

Mouldi Gassoumi, an academic and sociology researcher, stated that the march was a call for Tunisian citizens to “rediscover the values and principles of the Republic.” 

“Unfortunately, these values began to be abandoned on 25 July 2021, since what I have repeatedly described as a ‘coup d’état against the constitutional order’,” he added.

The march is the most recent part of a string of demonstrations opposing crackdowns on dissent, the struggling economy and the current limits on press freedom. 

Protesters were seen holding up portraits of imprisoned journalist Mourad Zghidi, with his sister urging people to resist, saying people today are “oppressed and imprisoned.” 

“And those who could bring added value to this country are behind bars. The country is facing great dangers, and we must take to the streets to defend its achievements,” she said.

The demonstration that took place on July 25th comes amid the rising social tensions present in the country. In more recent days, Tunisia has also been hit by an intense heatwave. The heatwaves have sparked multiple wildfires across the country and have caused continuous power and water outages, deepening the frustrations the public holds over the decline in basic services. 

Africa News, Maghrebi.org.