Tunisians Rally Against Power Cuts and Water Scarcity Amid Heat Wave
Protesters in Tunis demand President Saied's exit amid extreme heat, power rationing, and water shortages.
Thousands of Tunisians gathered in the capital on Thursday to protest against chronic power outages, water scarcity, and a deepening cost-of-living crisis, with many demonstrators explicitly calling for President Kais Saied to leave office.
The rally, organized by the opposition collective Nafas, drew a mix of seasoned activists and first-time protesters, including social media influencers who have begun mobilizing younger crowds. Chants of "Dégage" — the French phrase for "Get out" — and slogans branding Saied a dictator echoed through the streets.
The protests come after a summer of extreme heat, with temperatures in some regions climbing to 50 degrees Celsius. The heat wave pushed electricity demand to record levels, forcing the state utility STEG to introduce rolling blackouts. These power cuts, in turn, disrupted water pumping stations, worsening access to drinking water in several areas.
"I'm trying to defend my country because I see it heading towards the abyss," said protester Youssef Hleli. "The country has hit a wall: there is no water or electricity. What I see is that the country is going backwards, while other countries have moved ahead of us."
Other demonstrators voiced anger over a migration memorandum of understanding signed with Italy, arguing it is non-binding and should be renegotiated. Hayet Lafi, another protester, said the agreement could be reviewed with the Italian government or the European Union.
Thursday's demonstration follows a similar Nafas-led rally last month. The movement, launched in May, aims to unite political parties and independent figures beyond Tunisia's traditional opposition. Recent protests have seen a marked shift in tone, with slogans demanding Saied's removal becoming more explicit, echoing the revolutionary chants of the 2011 Arab Spring.
Since 2021, Saied has consolidated power, overseeing increased restrictions on independent media, civil society, and dissent. He has accused critics of receiving foreign funding to destabilize the country.