Police fire tear gas in Tunis and southern Tunisia after deaths linked by relatives to security operations, as public anger grows over living conditions and public services.
TUNIS, Tunisia — WEB DESK: Police clashed with demonstrators in the outskirts of Tunis and several southern communities on Thursday, October 22, after a series of deaths that relatives linked to security operations. Officers fired tear gas to disperse crowds as protesters blocked roads, burned tyres and threw stones.
The unrest comes amid growing public frustration over deteriorating living conditions, poor public services and a broader economic and political crisis. It follows a large demonstration against President Kais Saied in the capital on October 17.
Clashes Erupt in Tunis Suburb
In Ettadhamen, a suburb of Tunis, protests erupted following the death of a man who had been detained on suspicion of drug dealing.
The man’s family alleged that police abuse after his arrest caused his death and called for an investigation and accountability. Local media, however, reported that he died after swallowing drugs. The Interior Ministry was not immediately available for comment when Reuters reported the incident.
Demonstrators blocked roads, burned tyres and threw stones at police. Security forces responded with tear gas while attempting to secure a National Guard station in the area.
The circumstances surrounding the man’s death remain disputed in the available reporting. The family’s allegations should not be treated as established findings without the outcome of an investigation.
Protests Spread to Southern Tunisia
Clashes were also reported in Jebiniana, in the Sfax governorate, following the death of another man whose relatives said he died while being pursued by security forces.
Tunisian media reported that demonstrators burned tyres and set a vehicle on fire, while police used tear gas to disperse crowds. Similar clashes were reported in nearby Agareb.
The incidents added to tensions in the region, where concerns about security operations and public services have contributed to wider public discontent.
Students Protest After Female Student’s Death
In the coastal city of Sfax, students protested the death of a female student who had suffered a cardiac problem.
Her fellow students alleged that ambulance personnel took too long to arrive and pointed to shortages of medical facilities. They called for a strike at the city’s university faculties on Friday, October 23.
The reported protest highlighted concerns about emergency medical services and the availability of adequate healthcare. The students’ allegations about the ambulance response had not been independently established in the reports reviewed.
Economic and Political Discontent Deepens
The latest clashes come against a backdrop of mounting economic and political tensions in Tunisia.
Thousands of people joined a major demonstration in Tunis on October 17, organised by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) alongside civil society groups and opposition parties. Protesters criticised Saied’s leadership, worsening economic conditions and restrictions on political freedoms.
The demonstration brought together people from different political and professional backgrounds, reflecting concerns over unemployment, deteriorating public services and restrictions on civil liberties.
Saied’s opponents accuse him of weakening democratic institutions since consolidating power in 2021. His government has rejected characterisations of him as a dictator, while the political dispute continues to shape the country’s public debate.
