The echoes of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution resonate once again as citizens rally in response to escalating socio-economic challenges that have, over time, blurred the lines between political and everyday grievances. With calls for “employment, freedom, and national dignity” reigniting on the streets, the country grapples with not only the remnants of a struggling economy but also a political landscape marked by increasing restrictions and disillusionment. As Tunisia reflects on the past decade of tumultuous changes, the current protests illuminate the persistent quest for legitimate and effective governance.
Tunis, Tunisia – More than 15 years after Tunisians successfully mobilized to oust long-standing President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, familiar grievances are re-emerging from the north to the south of the country. This resurgence is encapsulated in the slogan from the 2011 revolution: “employment, freedom, and national dignity.” Current protests, however, are intensified by a multitude of pressures, including water shortages, electricity outages, surging prices, and difficulties in accessing essential medications, issues that are increasingly penetrating all social and economic layers of Tunisian society.
The protests come as Tunisia navigates a complex political landscape marked by President Kais Saied’s decision five years ago to suspend parliament, dismiss the government, and rule by decree. Initially, many Tunisians welcomed these moves, perceiving them as necessary actions to break years of political gridlock and corruption. However, as the five-year mark approaches, the same frustrations that fueled Saied’s rise to power linger, compounded by a significant reduction in the political space available for public dissent.
In the decade following Ben Ali’s removal, Tunisia saw a surge in competitive elections and the flourishing of political parties and civil society. Yet this period also brought frequent governmental changes and political disputes, resulting in little tangible improvement in the lives of many Tunisians. Unemployment rates remained alarmingly high, particularly among the youth and in the country’s less urbanized interior regions, echoing concerns raised numerous times in the past. By the close of 2020, the World Bank reported an unemployment rate of 17.4 percent.
Moreover, Tunisia has faced security threats – from attacks to political assassinations – that not only contribute to economic pressures but also adversely affect vital sectors such as tourism. Frustrations about these pressing issues helped Saied secure support as an outsider favoring a break from the traditional political elite, which many viewed as ineffective. On July 25, 2021, Saied took significant actions by suspending the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, dismissing Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, and lifting parliamentary immunity, arguing that such decisions were imperative to address a national crisis.
Opponents, however, condemned these actions as a coup and, subsequently, Saied dissolved parliament and facilitated the adoption of a new constitution in 2022 which bolstered presidential powers. Since these developments, a troubling trend has emerged where opposition figures, journalists, lawyers, and activists have faced arrests or prosecutions that rights organizations have characterized as politically motivated. Simultaneously, civil society now finds itself confronting heightened restrictions; as cited by Human Rights Watch, the so-called “conspiracy case” appears to be a concerted effort to suppress dissent.
The “conspiracy case” revolves around allegations from Tunisian authorities that various public figures—including opposition politicians, lawyers, and activists—engaged in plots against state security. The defendants represent a diverse political spectrum, and the ramifications of the case have been pronounced, with numerous sentences issued to several individuals based on claims deemed politically charged by various watchdogs. These sentiments are echoed in protests that fill the streets as citizens demand the restoration of democracy and the release of detained activists.
The summer’s punishing temperatures have also added a layer of complexity to the country’s governance, with soaring electricity demand leading the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas to institute rotating power cuts. Areas across the country reported insufficient access to both water and electricity, with long lines forming outside shops and water trucks amid a nationwide supply shortage. Citizens like Rebh, a 40-year-old cleaner from Tunis, emphasize that their demands center around accessing life’s necessities rather than luxury, lamenting that many are forced to take desperate measures to seek better opportunities abroad.
The overarching narrative is not only about Saied’s failure to resolve Tunisia’s pre-existing economic problems but also whether his centralized governance has lived up to its promises of an effective and responsive administration. The dialogue around political freedoms and civil liberties, once expanded post-revolution, has constricted since 2021, as journalists and citizens alike find avenues for dissent growing increasingly limited.
Efforts by the Nafas movement, which seeks to unite political parties and independent figures, highlight that the current protests are not confined to traditional opposition factions. The movement demonstrates a collective frustration that many of the demands from the Tunisia of 2011 remain unresolved, with citizens repeatedly asking where the promised employment and essential services are.
Despite the changing political climates, the connection between economic distress and political dissatisfaction has become increasingly evident. While some citizens remain hesitant about the traditional political structures that previously governed them, the overlapping grievances suggest that the quest for social justice and equity in Tunisia continues—a challenge that will require addressing not only economics but also rights and freedoms for citizens.
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