Tunisians rally against Saied on fifth anniversary of emergency rule

Thousands of Tunisians took to the streets of the capital Tunis on Saturday to demand the resignation of President Kais Saied, exactly five years after he declared a national emergency and began ruling by decree. The protest, which marched down Habib Bourguiba Avenue, saw demonstrators waving flags and banners rejecting what Saied calls the “July 25 path,” and chanting for “freedom, work and national dignity.” The rally highlighted growing anger over deteriorating living conditions, political repression, and the reversal of democratic gains since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution.

A return to the streets

The demonstration began at Republic Square and moved toward the Municipal Theatre, with protesters carrying signs calling for the release of political prisoners. Many revived the revolutionary slogan “the people want the fall of the regime,” echoing the chants that preceded the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. Wissam Sghaier, spokesman for the opposition Jomhouri party, told Al Jazeera that the protest aimed to hold the government accountable. “We are not tenants of this country, we are its owners,” he said, adding that participants were prepared to face arrests. The call for the rally was initiated by Nafas, a coalition of opposition parties and independent figures opposed to Saied’s concentration of power.

Five years of emergency rule

On July 25, 2021, Saied invoked emergency powers to suspend parliament, dismiss the prime minister, and later dissolve the legislature entirely. He has since governed by decree, arguing that his actions were necessary to combat corruption and prevent chaos. Critics, however, accuse him of abusing emergency measures to dismantle Tunisia’s democratic institutions. Over the past five years, Saied has dismissed dozens of judges, criminalized the spread of media he deems false, and arrested major opposition figures. Among the most prominent is Rached Ghannouchi, the former parliament speaker and leader of the Ennahdha party, who was sentenced to life plus 30 years on terrorism charges in June. Ghannouchi, aged 85, reportedly suffers from deteriorating health and has fainted during imprisonment.

Economic woes and political repression

The protest reflected widespread frustration with the government’s management of the economy and public services. Imed al-Khamiri, spokesman for the Ennahdha party, noted that the demonstrations have expanded beyond traditional opposition parties to include a broader swath of citizens disaffected by inflation, unemployment, and poor services. Tunisia’s democratic transition, which began with the 2011 uprising, saw the country hold its first free elections and adopt a progressive constitution. Many of those gains have been eroded under Saied’s rule. The president maintains that no rights have been curtailed and that his measures are aimed at rooting out corruption.

What comes next?

Saturday’s protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations against Saied’s government, signaling that opposition remains resilient despite widespread arrests. With no clear end to the emergency rule in sight, analysts expect tensions to persist. The opposition has called for a united front to challenge Saied’s monopoly on power, but the path forward remains uncertain. As Tunisia approaches a potential election cycle in 2029, the country faces a stark choice between continued authoritarian drift and a renewed push for democratic restoration.