In Tunisia, the fifth anniversary of President Kais Saied’s controversial power grab has been marked by a resurgence of grievances echoing the 2011 revolution. Familiar slogans like “employment, freedom and national dignity” have resurfaced as citizens across the country express anger over water cuts, electricity outages, rising prices, medicine shortages, and the struggle to make ends meet. These issues are increasingly affecting Tunisians from all social and economic backgrounds.
Saied’s decision to suspend parliament and dismiss the government, which he described as necessary to end years of political paralysis and corruption, was initially welcomed by many.
However, five years on, many of these grievances persist, while the political space for challenging the government has narrowed significantly.
The decade following the overthrow of long — time President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali brought competitive elections and greater political freedoms, yet it also saw frequent government changes, political disputes, and little improvement in the lives of many Tunisians. Unemployment remained high, particularly among young people, and public services remained weak amidst rising prices.
In July 2021, Saied’s actions, which opponents described as a coup, led to the dissolution of parliament and the adoption of a new constitution in 2022 that significantly strengthened presidential powers. Since then, opposition figures, journalists, lawyers, and activists have faced prosecution in cases rights groups describe as politically motivated.
The “conspiracy case” is one such case, where authorities accused opposition politicians, lawyers, activists, and other public figures of involvement in a conspiracy against state security.
A Tunis appeals court upheld convictions against 34 of the 37 defendants in April 2025, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from five to 45 years. Despite promises of an economic turnaround, the situation has yet to improve. This summer, record-breaking temperatures in parts of Tunisia pushed electricity demand to unprecedented levels, leading to rotating power cuts and water shortages.
The Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas introduced these cuts in several regions, affecting water — pumping stations and leaving many without running water.
The situation has led to widespread discontent and calls for change.
As the nation commemorates the fifth anniversary of Saied’s rise to power, the future of Tunisia hangs in the balance, with demands for democracy and social justice at the forefront of public discourse.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: aljazeera
Source: Ghaya Ben Mbarek
