Thousands poured into the streets of the Tunisian capital today (Saturday) in a massive protest to demand the restoration of democracy and freedoms, in a move that reflects growing anger at the policies of President Kais Saied, amid accusations that he is imposing “tyrannical rule” and failing miserably to address the worsening economic crisis.
This protest, led by the Labor Union and organizations including the Human Rights League, the Deanship of Lawyers, and the Journalists Syndicate, is the largest of its kind in several years, and constitutes a strong challenge to Saied after years that witnessed divisions that weakened his opponents’ ability to mobilize.
In a rare scene of unity, opposition parties from across the political spectrum, including parties that have witnessed rivalries for years, joined lawyers, doctors, journalists, the unemployed, and civil society organizations in the protest.
The demonstrators gathered in Mohamed Ali Square, the stronghold of the Labor Union, before they roamed the streets of the capital towards “Habib Bourguiba Street,” a focal point in the demonstrations that sparked the “Arab Spring” 15 years ago.
Hundreds of police personnel were deployed in the streets and avenues of the capital, while many of them were closed.
The protest raised the slogan “Tunisia first... the people above all else,” and the demonstrators waved Tunisian flags.
Salah al-Din al-Salmi, Secretary-General of the Labor Union, said in a speech to the crowds: “Silence is no longer Tunisia’s crisis today. It is essentially the monopolization of one person with all powers.”
The participants chanted demands calling for freedoms, independence of the judiciary, stopping the prosecution of opponents, and stopping infringement on union rights. They also raised banners and slogans expressing the growing dissatisfaction with widespread unemployment, poor public services, and what they described as false promises.
Yassine El-Gharsalaoui, one of the protest participants, coming from Sfax in southern Tunisia, said: “The country is collapsing at all levels... We are suffering from crisis after crisis of thirst and frequent power outages, while crises are being thrown at conspirators and traitors.”
Al-Gharsalawi added to Reuters: “I am here to defend my freedom and I am not ready to give it up, even if I am the last voice screaming in the country.”
The protesters chanted slogans including: “No fear, no terror... the street belongs to the people,” and “Freedoms... the police state is dead (ended).”
They also revived the most prominent slogans of the Tunisian revolution, which were later echoed in countries in the region: “The people want to overthrow the regime.”
The protest comes in the midst of a worsening economic crisis and a sharp deterioration in public services, including frequent water and electricity outages, and shortages of medicines and some basic goods.
Local and international human rights organizations accuse Saeed of launching an escalating campaign of repression against civil society organizations, putting journalists and opposition leaders behind bars, accusing him of turning the country into an open prison. But Saied rejects the accusations of tyranny and oppression, and says that he is not a dictator, and that he is continuing to cleanse the country of those he describes as traitors, corrupt, and conspirators. He also accuses his opponents of creating economic crises with the aim of inflaming social conditions and igniting the country from within.
In 2021, Saied tightened his grip on most of the authorities, and later dissolved the elected parliament, began ruling by decree, dissolved the Judicial Council, and dismissed dozens of judges... in steps that his critics described as a “coup.”
Egypt and Turkey stressed intensive coordination in the crises in Libya, Sudan, and Syria. Talks between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, on Saturday, on the sidelines of the meetings of the 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Baghdad, stressed the importance of continuing consultation within the framework of the regional “quartet mechanism,” and intensifying joint efforts to support political solutions to regional crises, reduce escalation, and consolidate security and stability in the region.
According to a statement by the official spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nader Zaki, the meeting dealt with developments in the regional situation, including the Iranian file, where Minister Abdel Ati stressed “the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts, supporting political solutions, and intensifying coordination and consultation within the framework of the (regional quadripartite mechanism), in a way that contributes to reducing tension and enhancing regional security and stability.” He stressed “the rejection of compromising the security of the Gulf states or using the straits and sea lanes as a tool for pressure or escalation.”
Abdel-Ati and Fidan reviewed the efforts made and the proposals put forward to reach an agreement that would contribute to containing tension and reducing escalation, and stressed “the necessity of returning to dialogue and resuming the diplomatic path through negotiation and reaching understandings between the United States and Iran, as this is the only way to end the current crisis and put an end to the state of escalation that is severely damaging the interests of all countries in the region.”
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman added, on Saturday, that the two ministers discussed the situation in Yemen and the importance of supporting national state institutions. They also renewed their condemnation of the unjustified attacks on the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The two ministers also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Sudanese crisis, with Abdel-Ati stressing “the necessity of preserving Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national state institutions, and supporting efforts aimed at reaching a political settlement of the crisis that meets the aspirations of the brotherly Sudanese people.”
The talks also touched on developments in the situation in Libya, where the Egyptian Foreign Minister stressed “the importance of supporting the political process, ending division, and unifying national institutions, in a way that preserves Libya’s unity, sovereignty, and stability.”
The meeting also touched on developments in the situation in Syria, and Badr Abdel Ati stressed “the importance of supporting stability in Syria, and preserving its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, in a way that enables the Syrian state to carry out its responsibilities and maintain the country’s security and stability,” stressing “Egypt’s complete rejection of the Israeli attacks on Syrian territory.”
Meanwhile, during talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Baghdad, on Saturday, Abdel Ati stressed “the necessity of reducing escalation and quickly restoring calm and stability in the region,” and they discussed ways to reach an agreement that would contribute to containing the current crisis and preventing the expansion of the scope of the conflict.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman added that Minister Abdel Ati discussed in his speech “the necessity of ensuring freedom of international navigation and the regularity of trade movement through sea lanes, which contributes to reducing the negative repercussions of the crisis on the global economy, especially in light of the major disruptions it has caused in the energy and fertilizer supply chains and international trade movement.”
He also stressed “the necessity of respecting the security and stability of the Gulf states and all countries of the region, and the importance of stopping all hostile actions targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and condemning these unjustified attacks.”
Abdel Ati also discussed with his Yemeni counterpart, Afrah Abdel Aziz Al-Zouba, on Saturday, in Baghdad, the situation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab region, while “stressing the importance of maintaining the security and freedom of navigation in international sea lanes, and the need to intensify efforts to contain tensions and prevent the expansion of the circle of conflict, in a way that contributes to enhancing security and stability in the region.”
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, the meeting dealt with “emphasizing Egypt’s firm position on supporting the unity and sovereignty of brotherly Yemen,” where Minister Abdel Ati stressed “Egypt’s support for everything that would restore security and stability in Yemen, and activate paths for a political and diplomatic settlement of the Yemeni crisis, in a way that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people, enhances calm, and preserves the state’s capabilities.”
The two ministers exchanged visions regarding the recent developments in the region, and the Egyptian Foreign Minister affirmed “his country’s categorical rejection of the attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and full solidarity and standing with it in the face of everything that affects its security or stability, considering the Kingdom’s security an integral part of Egyptian national security.”
Today, Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called on Parliament to hold an emergency session to authorize any intervention requested by Saudi Arabia.
Cairo News Channel quoted Sisi as saying, during a graduation ceremony for new batches of the Egyptian Military Academy: “We will implement any measure to protect Saudi Arabia, and I call on Parliament to hold an emergency session to authorize this move if we are asked to do so.”
He added: “We must not forget the support that the brothers in the Gulf provided to Egypt,” adding: “We stand strongly and fully support the protection of the lands of our brothers in the Gulf.”
Al-Sisi stressed the implementation of any measure requested by Saudi Arabia to defend its security and sovereignty.
On the other hand, Al-Sisi confirmed today, Saturday, that the year 2030 will be the end of his term as head of state. “This is completely settled,” Al-Sisi said, stressing that the Egyptian constitution will not be affected.
He added that it is my duty to preserve the state and keep its flag flying high, noting that the armed forces are the basic pillar of national security and are the nation’s shield and sword.
He stressed that maintaining the armed forces is a national duty that falls on the responsibility of all Egyptians, explaining that protecting the homeland is a shared responsibility that begins with the family, which was and will remain the basic pillar in building the human being.
Al-Sisi stressed that the awareness of Egyptians has always been the strong fortress that preserved the cohesion of the state, stressing that national cohesion and unity of ranks will remain decisive factors in protecting the homeland.
