Tunisia, the country that lit the fuse of the Arab Spring, is tense again. The latest Tunisia protests turned violent on Thursday, with police firing tear gas in a suburb of the capital while clashes broke out in two southern towns.
What happened on Thursday
In Ettadhamen, on the edge of Tunis, protesters blocked roads, burned tyres and threw stones after a man detained on suspicion of drug dealing died. His family says police violence killed him and wants those responsible held accountable. Local media reported he died after swallowing drugs. Security forces used tear gas while trying to secure a National Guard station.
Earlier in the day, police clashed with protesters in Jebeniana, in Sfax governorate, after relatives said a man died during a security chase. Similar scenes played out in nearby Agareb. Tunisian media reported a vehicle set ablaze in Jebeniana.
Tunisia political tensions behind the anger
The clashes land in the middle of a deepening economic, social and political crisis. People are angry about falling living standards and poor public services, and there is growing fear of a wider wave of unrest.
Last Saturday, thousands marched in Tunis in the biggest protest against President Kais Saied in years, led by the powerful UGTT labour union. Demonstrators accused him of undermining democracy and mishandling the economy. On Wednesday, a military court sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison over plotting against state security and inciting the army to disobey orders, the latest in a string of moves against Saied’s critics.
Why North Africa is watching
Tunisia was long held up as the one success story of 2011. Today, public demonstrations over police conduct, rights and the cost of living echo across the region, from Cairo to Casablanca. Whether this week’s unrest fades or spreads may depend on how authorities handle the deaths and the families demanding answers.
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