# Tunisia under Saied: protests intensify amid utility crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tunisia-under-saieds-authoritarian-rule > Updated: 2026-09-09T14:36:31.000Z. Sources: 39. Developments: 6. President Kais Saied’s 2021 constitutional takeover entrenched presidential power, persisting after his 2024 re-election. This model of personalized rule, which limits parliamentary and judicial checks, has faced intense scrutiny as a severe heatwave and infrastructure failures exacerbate the political crisis. On the five-year anniversary of Saied’s July 25, 2026, emergency decree, thousands marched through Tunis. Organized by the Nafas movement and a coalition including Ennahdha, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “the people want the fall of the regime” and “freedom, work, national dignity.” Opposition spokesperson Wissam Sghaier called for Saied’s resignation and the release of political prisoners, characterizing the emergency measures as a reversal of Tunisia’s democratic transition. By August, the crisis deepened as temperatures near 50°C triggered grid failures and prolonged blackouts. These outages caused hospitals to lose oxygen supplies, leading to patient deaths, and disrupted water distribution. State-owned utility STEG implemented electricity rationing, which subsequently impacted water pumping stations and caused widespread shortages of drinking water. Amidst wildfires that burned roughly 4,400 hectares, protests surged. Demonstrators faced counter-protests and a widening media crackdown. Human Rights Watch described a growing “human-rights crisis,” noting that criticism of the government is no longer tolerated. Recent unrest has seen increased participation from younger citizens and social media influencers, driven by rising living costs, unemployment, and chronic shortages of essential medicines. In early September, the Nafas Movement organized protests near the El Menzah stadium to denounce worsening utility services and the restriction of civil liberties. The state-owned Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company attributed electricity outages to load shedding to manage demand. Tensions rose following the arrest of Mohamed Yousfi, editor-in-chief of Al-Katiba, on charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering, as journalists reported increasing pressure on media professionals. ## Claims - Protests took place in Tunis on 25 July 2026, marking five years since President Kais Saied declared a national emergency. (corroborated by 17 sources) - Demonstrators called for President Kais Saied to resign. (corroborated by 17 sources) - Protest slogans included “Leave”, “People want the fall of the regime,” and “The people want the fall of the regime.” (corroborated by 17 sources) - The protests were organised by the Nafas umbrella movement together with opposition parties such as Ennahdha. (corroborated by 15 sources) - Wissam Sghaier said, “We are not tenants of this country, we are its owners.” (corroborated by 13 sources) - Protesters complained about worsening living conditions, frequent electricity and water cuts, and a heat wave with temperatures up to 50 °C. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The Nafas movement organized protests to demand the end of Saied's mandate and the restoration of democracy. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Attendance estimates ranged from about 1 000 to more than 3 000 participants. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The state-owned utility STEG introduced rationing measures due to record-high electricity demand. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Protesters are calling for the release of political detainees, activists, and journalists. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Tunisia's inflation rate is 5.2 percent. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: Tunisia: President Saied calls utility outages ‘premeditated acts’ Tunisian President Kais Saied has blamed recent severe water and electricity shortages on ‘premeditated acts’ aimed at inciting unrest during a period of extreme heat and rising utility consumption. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tunisia-president-saied-calls-utility-outages-premeditated-acts ### 2026-09-05: Tunisia: Protests erupt over utility shortages and civil liberties Hundreds of Tunisians protested in Tunis against electricity and water shortages, rising costs, and perceived restrictions on civil liberties and press freedom. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tunisia-protests-erupt-over-utility-shortages-and-civil-liberties ### 2026-08-20: Tunisia protests erupt over utility shortages and political repression Tunisians are protesting against President Kais Saied, citing severe water and power shortages, rising living costs, and the erosion of democratic freedoms amid an intense summer heatwave. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tunisia-opposition-group-calls-for-protest-amid-utility-shortages ### 2026-08-01: Tunisia protests surge as heatwave, wildfires strain a five‑year authoritarian rule Thousands protest in Tunis against President Kais Saied’s five‑year authoritarian rule as heatwave, wildfires and power cuts deepen the crisis. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tunisia-protests-surge-as-heatwave-wildfires-strain-a-fiveyear-authoritarian-rule ### 2026-07-25: Tunisian streets see massive protests on fifth anniversary of Saied's emergency rule Thousands protested in Tunis on 25 July 2026, marking five years of Saied’s emergency rule and demanding his resignation amid economic hardship and power cuts. 24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tunisia-faces-rising-protests-amid-five-year-fallout-of-sads-2021-power-grab ### 2026-07-24: Tunisia's entrenched presidentialism fuels political crisis and heat‑wave failures Tunisia's long‑standing presidential system concentrates power, and a 2026 heat wave revealed failing state services, electricity cuts and hospital deaths, raising doubts about President Kais Saïed’s health and 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tunisias-entrenched-presidentialism-fuels-political-crisis-and-heatwave-failures --- Cite as: Tunisia under Saied: protests intensify amid utility crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tunisia-under-saieds-authoritarian-rule