Tunisians Protest Saied as Police Clashes Fuel Public Anger

Public anger over political restrictions, economic hardship, and concerns about civilian deaths has fueled demonstrations across Tunisia, including clashes between police and protesters in Tunis and the southern town of Jebiniana. The unrest comes amid mounting pressure on President Kais Saied following a major opposition march on October 17, 2026, that demanded democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners.

According to Al Jazeera, police fired tear gas on Thursday in Ettadhamen, a suburb of Tunis, after a man detained on suspicion of drug dealing died. His family alleged that police officers abused him after his arrest and called for an investigation into the circumstances of his death. Local media reported that he died after swallowing drugs.

Protesters blocked roads, burned tires, and threw stones at police as security forces sought to protect a National Guard station, according to Reuters. In Jebiniana, in Sfax governorate, demonstrators confronted police following another man's death. His relatives said he died while being pursued by security forces, while Tunisian media reported that protesters set a vehicle ablaze and burned tires before police deployed tear gas.

Separate demonstrations took place in the coastal city of Sfax after a female student died from a cardiac problem. Her fellow students blamed delayed ambulance services and a lack of medical facilities, and called for a strike at Sfax University's faculties on Friday, according to Al Jazeera.

The incidents have intensified concerns about public services and living conditions as Tunisia faces overlapping economic, social, and political challenges.

Thousands of people joined the October 17 march in Tunis, one of the largest demonstrations against Saied in years, according to Democracy Now and the Human Rights Research Center. The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) led the march, which brought together opposition parties, civil society organizations, lawyers, journalists, doctors, human rights advocates, and unemployed citizens.

Participants marched from Mohamed Ali Square to Habib Bourguiba Avenue, demanding the restoration of democratic freedoms, the release of political detainees, and action on the economic crisis. They also protested restrictions on freedom of expression, judicial independence, and trade union rights, alongside the prosecution and imprisonment of journalists, activists, and political opponents.

Demonstrators carried portraits of imprisoned journalist Mourad Zghidi and chanted a revolutionary slogan calling for the fall of the regime, according to the Human Rights Research Center. Their grievances included unemployment, rising living costs, healthcare shortages, and recurring water and electricity disruptions.

Jamaleddine Sebaa, vice president of the Tunisian Human Rights League, described the country's situation as a severe crisis involving widespread violations of rights. Speaking to Democracy Now, he said:

"A suffocating crisis on all levels, frankly speaking. Almost all rights today have been violated. The state is no longer fulfilling its duty to provide rights for Tunisian citizens, and that is what made us determined today to make the voice of the Tunisian people heard. Tunisia first, and the Tunisian people above all."

Saied consolidated presidential power in 2021 by suspending and dissolving Parliament, dismissing dozens of judges, and ruling by decree. He expanded presidential powers through a new Constitution in 2022, according to the Human Rights Research Center. Human rights organizations have accused his administration of weakening democratic institutions and suppressing dissent, allegations Saied has rejected while defending his measures as necessary to combat corruption and protect the state.

Political tensions have also intensified through judicial proceedings against opposition figures. On Wednesday, a Tunisian military court sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of plotting against state security and inciting the military to disobey orders, Al Jazeera reported.

The Human Rights Research Center urged Tunisian authorities to protect peaceful protesters, uphold freedom of expression, preserve judicial independence, and ensure due process for political detainees.