Tunisia’s long-time ruler, a refugee of the Jasmine Revolution
Opposition figures in Tunisia remain in deteriorating health under a heatwave in overcrowded prisons. Families report extreme conditions as authorities refuse information, while protests mark five years since the emergency rule crystallizing tensions between Saied’s government and opponents.
Protests surge as Tunisia faces extreme heat, water and power shortages, with opposition groups criticizing President Kais Saied’s leadership. Demonstrators demand restored public services, release of detainees, and steps toward political reform amid ongoing economic strain.
Human Rights Watch reports a systematic crackdown on civil society in Tunisia, with arrests, prosecutions and mass suspensions aimed at shrinking civic space. By late 2024 through 2026, at least 47 people linked to NGOs have been prosecuted, with 14 convicted and several organizations dissolved or blocked from operating.