URGENT UPDATE: Hundreds of protesters have surged through the streets of Tunis today, expressing outrage over a severe environmental crisis linked to pollution from a state chemical plant in Gabes. This demonstration marks a pivotal escalation in a series of protests that began in Gabes and are now rippling across the capital, raising urgent concerns about public health and government accountability.
The protests, which kicked off earlier this month, were ignited after dozens of schoolchildren experienced serious breathing difficulties attributed to toxic fumes from a phosphate processing facility. Residents of Gabes have reported alarming increases in respiratory illnesses, osteoporosis, and cancer, correlating these health issues with the toxic discharge from the state-owned phosphate plants that release thousands of tons of waste into the sea daily.
Demonstrators in Tunis waved banners and voiced solidarity with Gabes residents, denouncing the government’s response as “repression.” Hani Faraj, a key figure from the Stop Pollution campaign, emphasized the dire situation, stating, “It’s that simple, the people of Gabes want to breathe. Gabes is dying slowly… We will not remain silent. We will escalate our peaceful protests.”
The unrest poses a significant challenge for President Kais Saied, who has faced criticism over his handling of the nation’s environmental and public service crises since consolidating power in 2021. As protests in the capital escalate, officials are alarmed that unrest could spread further, exacerbating the nation’s ongoing economic downturn and political instability.
In response to the protests, President Saied has characterized the situation in Gabes as an “environmental assassination” and has blamed prior governmental policies for the crisis. He has called for immediate repairs to the industrial units responsible for the leaks. Furthermore, Health Minister Mustapha Ferjani announced plans to construct a cancer hospital in Gabes to address the rising incidence of the disease, although protesters have dismissed these measures as insufficient and temporary.
The government has reported arrests related to alleged violence during the protests, further complicating the situation. With calls for the permanent closure and relocation of polluting facilities growing louder, the administration is under increasing pressure to take decisive action.
As the protests continue to unfold, the international community watches closely. The situation remains fluid, and further demonstrations are expected in the coming days. Residents demand systemic change, and their voices resonate as a powerful testament to the urgent need for environmental justice in Tunisia.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
