Tunisia protests surge as heatwave, wildfires strain a five‑year authoritarian rule

Five years after President Kais Saied seized power in a self‑coup, thousands of Tunisians took to the streets of Tunis to denounce his increasingly autocratic rule and worsening living conditions. Demonstrators faced counter‑protests from Saied supporters, while journalists reported a sweeping media crackdown.

A severe heatwave and wildfires have compounded the crisis, with fires having burned roughly 4,400 hectares of land despite assistance from Italy and Algeria. State‑owned utility STEG imposed staggered power cuts to manage soaring electricity demand, further harming crops and industry. Human Rights Watch’s Tunisia director Salsabil Chellali warned that criticism of the government is no longer tolerated, describing a “human‑rights crisis” under Saied’s rule.