Activists and opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied took to the streets of Tunis on Thursday, calling for his departure and the restoration of democracy in the latest protest against his governance amid growing political and economic discontent.
Hundreds of protesters said they reject “one-man rule” and “a slide towards dictatorship,” and urged the release of jailed opposition figures, activists and journalists.
A similar demonstration took place last month, coinciding with the anniversary of measures by Saied on July 25, 2021, when he dismissed the government and later dissolved the elected parliament and began governing by decree.
Saied later dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, saying he was fighting corruption within the judiciary.
The move drew widespread condemnation, and international rights groups described it as undermining judicial independence.
The protests do not, in themselves, signal an imminent political shift, but they reflect growing pressure on the president and underscore the ability of Saied’s opponents to mobilise in the streets despite their divisions.
–Reuters–
