Kaïs Saïed addresses utility sabotage and Gabès environmental crisis

Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed has addressed two major domestic issues: an ongoing environmental crisis in Gabès and widespread utility disruptions across the country.

In Gabès, residents continue to face toxic emissions and the discharge of phosphogypsum into the sea. Despite a presidential visit on August 10, 2026, to inspect the Tunisian Chemical Group, Deputy Thameur Mazhoud reports that no concrete progress has been made. Local representatives are calling for a clear roadmap regarding the transfer of polluting industrial units to mitigate the long-standing environmental damage.

Separately, President Saïed held a meeting at the Carthage Palace to discuss frequent water and electricity outages affecting various regions. The President characterized these disruptions not as routine technical failures, but as “acts of sabotage” deliberately orchestrated to incite tension and spread rumors. He emphasized that investigations suggest these incidents are attempts to destabilize the country and stated that the government is monitoring the situation closely.