Beneath Tunisia’s silence, public anger simmers

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that public frustration is rising in Tunisia amid a mix of political repression, economic strain and deteriorating services, five years after President Kais Saied consolidated power in 2021. The article says the sense of democratic participation that followed the 2011 revolution has largely faded, while public debate has narrowed and many government critics have been jailed, driven into exile or discouraged from speaking openly.

The story highlights worsening conditions during a summer heatwave, with wildfires, routine blackouts and water shortages adding pressure on households and businesses. It cites estimates that fires have burned thousands of hectares of land and says electricity cuts can last for many hours, affecting crops, industry, livestock, restaurants and vulnerable people. Protesters in Tunis recently took to the streets both against Saied’s rule and in support of it, underscoring the country’s political divide.

The report also describes a broader crackdown on media and opposition voices, including the imprisonment of figures linked to the Ennahdha party and the departure of prominent commentators. Human Rights Watch and other analysts quoted by Al Jazeera say criticism is increasingly treated as a threat. The article adds that some foreign partners, including the European Union and Tunisia’s neighbours, appear to prioritise stability over democratic reform, which may be helping sustain Saied’s position despite growing discontent.