By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Hundreds of Tunisians took to the street on Saturday against President Kais Saied, accusing him of rights violations and presiding over a worsening economic and social crisis in the country.
The protest in the capital, Tunis, was held under the slogan: “The people are hungry and prisons are full”.
Carrying placards denouncing arrest of politicians, journalists and civil society figures, the protesters called for an end to one-man rule.
They also criticised what they said was Saied’s failure to tackle the economic crisis, while using the judiciary and police to clampdown on critics.
Tunisia is facing acute economic turbulence, with sluggish growth, soaring inflation, shortages of medicines and some food, financing pressures, and deteriorating public services.
Saied, who dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree in 2022, has faced mounting criticism from rights groups over what they say is the dismantling of the post-2011 democratic system.
Saied denies those accusations, instead says his measures are necessary to save the country from chaos and corruption.
The bar association has called for strikes in coming days over erosion of judicial independence, while the journalists’ union plans protests against the jailing of journalists and restrictions on press freedom.
