Tunisia: protests demand closure of toxic chemical plant

Protests have intensified in Tunisia’s Gabès region as residents demand the closure of a state-owned phosphate chemical plant, Al Jazeera via AFP and Reuters reported on October 21.

Tunisia’s labour union, the UGTT, called a general strike, shutting schools, businesses, and public services. Demonstrators accuse the plant of decades of pollution causing severe health and environmental damage.

Protesters exclaimed “Gabès wants to live”, as they denounced government inaction and demanded the release of detained demonstrators. President Kais Saied called the situation an “environmental assassination,” blaming past governments while promising to seek solutions with international partners.

Al Jazeera via AFP and Reuters, Maghrebi.org