Thousands of Tunisians marched in Tunis on Saturday and demanded President Kais Saied’s resignation. The rally marked five years since he declared a national emergency, suspended parliament and later dissolved it.
Marchers moved along Habib Bourguiba Avenue in central Tunis from Republic Square toward the Municipal Theatre, chanting for freedom, work and national dignity. They also revived the slogan the people want the fall of the regime.
Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis
The protest was organized by Nafas, an umbrella initiative opposing Saied’s monopolisation of power. Wissam Sghaier said: "We took to the streets today to hold the system of governance to account and to expose its failures, because it is our role as political and civil forces". He added: "And to use popular Tunisian expressions: We are not tenants of this country, we are its owners."
Saied said his measures aim to tackle corruption and prevent chaos. His opponents say he has abused emergency powers and reversed democratic gains, including since 2011 when Tunisia ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, held its first free elections and adopted a new constitution guaranteeing political freedoms.
Imed al-Khamiri said the protests had expanded beyond traditional opposition parties to include a wider circle of citizens disaffected by the government’s handling of economic issues and public services. He said the crowd now includes people who no longer see politics as a narrow party contest.
Rached Ghannouchi and the arrests
Saied has dismissed dozens of judges, criminalised the spread of media the government deems false and arrested major figures in the opposition since instituting rule by decree. Rached Ghannouchi, the jailed former parliament speaker, was sentenced in June to life plus 30 years on terrorism charges, and he reportedly fainted from the conditions of imprisonment.
Wissam Sghaier also said: "If for that reason they’re going to fabricate cases against us and accuse us, then when our friends and comrades are imprisoned today, prisons are welcome". He added: "We are ready to pay the price."
The march on Saturday showed that the dispute over Saied’s July 25 path is no longer limited to party offices or legal chambers; it is now visible on the main street of Tunis. How many people joined the protest and whether it led to any immediate government response were not stated.
