Tunisia: Opposition rallies against president

Posted On 27 September 2021

Number of times this article was read : 142
About 2,000 Tunisians rallied in the capital on Sunday to protest against President Kais Saied’s recent steps to tighten his grip on power, labelling it “a coup d’etat”.   Saied, who on July 25 sacked prime minister Hichem Mechichi, suspended parliament and granted himself judicial powers, on Wednesday also announced “exceptional measures” that allow him to rule by decree.
Protesters waving the Tunisian flag gathered Sunday outside the the municipal theatre in Tunis, well before the demonstration’s scheduled 1100 GMT start, and shouted slogans in defence of the 2014 national charter.   “Constitution, freedom and national dignity,” chanted the mostly male demonstrators, also demanding “national unity against populism” and calling for the “end of the Kais Saied regime”.
Security forces were deployed in large numbers along Bourguiba Avenue, which runs through the heart of the capital, with armoured cars, police vans and metal barriers set up to control access to different areas.
The president made his power grab on July 25 after months of political stalemate and in the midst of the Covid pandemic, which further aggravated the country’s economic and social difficulties.  Large crowds cheered his move at the time all over the country, but the mood was hostile at the smaller demonstration in Tunis on Sunday. Some shouted “Get out, get out”, repeating the slogan of protests that started in December 2010 and culminated in the resignation of Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011 after 24 years in power.
Around 20 global and Tunisian human rights groups on Saturday condemned Saied’s “power grab” and labelled it “a first step towards authoritarianism”.  Signatories to the statement included Amnesty International’s Tunisia
section, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Tunisian Network for Transitional Justice.
AFP
Other Articles in this Week's Issue<< Algeria closes airspace to all Moroccan planesAlgeria: Prison time piles against former government leaders over more corruption >>
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Lafarge’s indictment for financing terrorism reveals corporate entanglements with ISIS to maintain operations in Syria. In Personne morale, Justine Augier exposes how multinationals like Lafarge navigate ethics and profit in conflict zones, raising questions on global accountability.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This