Situation Report: Competing protests erupt in Tunisia

LongJon / Shutterstock.com
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Competing protests erupted in Tunisia’s capital on September 18, nearly 2 months following President Kais Saied’s seizure of executive powers in the North African country. Saied’s supporters faced off with demonstrators who oppose the President’s actions that they brand a coup- including his suspension of Parliament and the firing of the country’s prime minister.

On July 26 2021, President Saied used military escorts to oust a variety of top government officials along with the country’s justice and defense ministers. While Saied defended his actions as a necessary means to fight the corruption and economic crises that have fractured Tunisia, his opponents have labeled his takeover a coup. The ousted parliament speaker and leader of the Islamist Ennahda opposition party, Rached Ghannouchi, initially encouraged supporters to rise up and fight Saied’s takeover, but has remained quiet in the months following.

The recent breakout of protests in Tunis is the first time Saied’s critics have demonstrated publicly against the President since the immediate aftermath of the takeover. Opponents are frustrated that Saied has not appointed a new prime minister nearly 8 weeks following his power grab. Saied initially announced the measures taken during his takeover were temporary and meant to revive a failing Tunisia, however, he later extended them “until further notice.”

Prior to Saied’s takeover, Tunisia was embroiled in economic collapse, political turmoil and corruption. The Islamist Ennahda party’s involvement with the previous 9 governments that have reigned has tied the group to the country’s troubles. Ennahda’s inability to maintain a stable government led many Tunisians to support Saied and his controversial power-grab. In fact, following Saied’s assumption of power, demonstrators took to the street to applaud the new President’s actions and set of fireworks in scenes reminiscent of the country’s 2011 revolution.

As the protests continue, the press will be watching President Saied and his approach to handling the opposing demonstrators. Saied will likely respond to the protests in some capacity and may fill some of the emptied government roles if the pressure ensues.

Please Share: