Thousands rally for biggest protest in years against Tunisia’s Saied
News Source
•Sat, 17 Oct 2026 14:57:24 +0000
📰 What Happened
Thousands of Tunisians marched through the capital on Saturday to protest against President Kais Saied. They also demonstrated against rising prices and limits on political freedom.
The march was led by the Tunisian General Labour Union, or UGTT, and joined by opposition parties. Signs read "No democracy without freedoms" and "No dignity with poverty".
It was the largest protest against Saied in years. Police closed roads and hundreds of officers were deployed across Tunis. Some marchers came from Sfax, about 250km south of the capital.
🔍 The Backstory
Tunisia's 2011 uprising forced out longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. It set off protests across the Arab world and led to the country's first free elections.
Saied was elected in 2019. In 2021 he suspended parliament and dismissed the government, then began ruling by decree. Critics say this weakened the democracy built after 2011.
The country has struggled for years with high unemployment, weak public services and shortages of medicine, fuel and water. Many young people cannot find work, and prices keep climbing.
🎯 Why It Matters
Tunisia was once seen as the Arab Spring's biggest success. Its slide back toward one-man rule shows how quickly hard-won freedoms can be lost.
Thousands of Tunisians marched through the capital on Saturday to protest against President Kais Saied. They also demonstrated against rising prices and limits on political freedom.
The march was led by the Tunisian General Labour Union, or UGTT, and joined by opposition parties. Signs read "No democracy without freedoms" and "No dignity with poverty".
It was the largest protest against Saied in years. Police closed roads and hundreds of officers were deployed across Tunis. Some marchers came from Sfax, about 250km south of the capital.
Tunisia's 2011 uprising forced out longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. It set off protests across the Arab world and led to the country's first free elections.
Saied was elected in 2019. In 2021 he suspended parliament and dismissed the government, then began ruling by decree. Critics say this weakened the democracy built after 2011.
The country has struggled for years with high unemployment, weak public services and shortages of medicine, fuel and water. Many young people cannot find work, and prices keep climbing.
Tunisia was once seen as the Arab Spring's biggest success. Its slide back toward one-man rule shows how quickly hard-won freedoms can be lost.