{"id":9481,"date":"2026-10-17T15:20:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T15:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=9481"},"modified":"2026-10-17T15:20:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T15:20:34","slug":"thousands-rally-for-biggest-protest-in-years-against-tunisias-saied-protests-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=9481","title":{"rendered":"Thousands rally for biggest protest in years against Tunisia\u2019s Saied | Protests News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unions and opposition groups unite to demonstrate against worsening living conditions and restrictions on political freedoms.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published On 17 Oct 2026<\/span>17 Oct 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Thousands of Tunisians have marched through the capital to protest against President Kais Saied, worsening living conditions and restrictions on political freedoms.<\/p>\n

The latest demonstration in Tunis on Saturday was led by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), an influential trade union federation, alongside opposition parties and civil society organisations.<\/p>\n

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It was the largest protest against Saied in years, bringing together political opponents whose longstanding divisions have weakened their ability to challenge his rule.<\/p>\n

The AFP news agency reported that more than 3,000 people were on the march, but the total could not be independently confirmed.<\/p>\n

Protesters gathered along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, a major street in central Tunis, as hundreds of police deployed across the capital. Several surrounding roads were closed.<\/p>\n

The crowd included lawyers, doctors, journalists and the unemployed, as well as activists and members of parties from across the political spectrum. They demanded the release of detained government critics and an end to restrictions on trade union rights.<\/p>\n

Placards reading \u201cNo democracy without freedoms\u201d and \u201cNo dignity with poverty\u201d reflected the political and economic grievances driving the demonstration.<\/p>\n

\"Tunisian
Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Secretary-General Salah Eddine Salmi and other demonstrators protest against President Kais Saied in Tunis on Saturday [Zoubeir Souissi\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Protesters also revived a slogan demanding the government\u2019s removal, widely heard during Tunisia\u2019s 2011 uprising.<\/p>\n

Addressing the rally on Saturday, UGTT leader Salah Eddine\u00a0Salmi criticised the concentration of political power in the presidency and said \u201csilence will no longer be acceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n

The political demands came alongside mounting frustration over the cost of basic goods and declining purchasing power.<\/p>\n

Prolonged difficulties<\/h2>\n

Tunisia has struggled with prolonged economic difficulties, deteriorating public services, recurring water and electricity cuts, as well as shortages of medicines and other essentials.<\/p>\n

Demonstrator Yassine Gharseli, who travelled from Sfax, about 250km south of Tunis, said repeated disruptions to basic services had deepened his frustration with the authorities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came from Sfax to stand up for my freedom,\u201d he told the Reuters news agency at the demo, expressing his determination to continue speaking out.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s march followed other demonstrations over similar grievances.<\/p>\n

On August 20 , protesters in Tunis rallied against rising prices and shortages of basic goods.<\/p>\n

Last month, fuel transport workers went on a two-day strike over wages and working conditions, led by a union federation affiliated with the UGTT.<\/p>\n

\"The
The latest protest over economic hardship and restrictions on freedoms in Tunis on Saturday [Zoubeir Souissi\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The demands recall the uprising that ousted longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, which helped ignite protests across the Arab world.<\/p>\n

Tunisia subsequently held competitive elections and expanded political freedoms, but unemployment and struggling public services remain persistent sources of anger.<\/p>\n

Saied came to power promising an alternative to that political system; however, in 2021, he suspended parliament and dismissed the government, saying he was confronting corruption and political deadlock.<\/p>\n

He later dissolved parliament and a new constitution increased presidential powers in 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Unions and opposition groups unite to demonstrate against worsening living conditions and restrictions on political freedoms. Published On 17 Oct 202617 Oct 2026 Thousands of Tunisians have marched through the capital to protest against President Kais Saied, worsening living conditions and restrictions on political freedoms. The latest demonstration in Tunis on Saturday was led by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9482,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t