TUNIS: Around 2,500 Tunisians marched through the coastal city of Gabes on Wednesday, reviving protests over pollution from a state-owned phosphate complex amid rising anger over perceived failures to protect public health.
People chanted mainly “Gabes wants to live,” on the 15th anniversary of the start of the 2011 pro-democracy uprising that sparked the Arab Spring movement against autocracy.
The protest added to the pressure on President Kais Saied’s government, which is grappling with a deep financial crisis and growing street unrest, protests by doctors, journalists, banks and public transport systems.
#Tunisia: A large number of people Wednesday joined a peaceful march in #Gabes demanding dismantling of polluting units of the #Tunisian Chemical Group & calling for clean air, accountability for environmental harm & urgent action following repeated toxic gas incidents. #TAP_En pic.twitter.com/fGxY34TKSY
— TAP news agency (@TapNewsAgency) December 17, 2025
