Hundreds of Tunisians took to the streets of the capital, Tunis, on Saturday to protest against severe environmental pollution from a state-owned chemical plant in Gabes. The demonstration marked a widening of protests that began in the southern city and reflected mounting public anger over government inaction and deteriorating public services — posing one of the biggest challenges to President Kais Saied since his power grab in 2021.
Residents of Gabes have long complained of rising cases of respiratory illnesses, osteoporosis, and cancer, which they attribute to toxic emissions and chemical waste from the state chemical group’s phosphate plants. The factories reportedly discharge thousands of tons of waste into the sea each day.
The latest protests erupted earlier this month after dozens of schoolchildren suffered breathing problems caused by toxic fumes from a nearby phosphate-processing plant.
In Tunis, protesters marched with banners and chanted in solidarity with Gabes residents, condemning what they described as government “repression.” Authorities confirmed the arrest of several individuals accused of violent conduct during the demonstrations.
“It’s that simple — the people of Gabes want to breathe,” said Hani Faraj, a protester from the Stop Pollution campaign. “Gabes is dying slowly. We will not stay silent. We will escalate our peaceful protests.”
President Saied has described the crisis in Gabes as an “environmental assassination,” blaming previous governments for years of neglect. He has ordered immediate repairs to prevent further leaks and pledged to build a cancer hospital in the region.
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However, protesters and environmental groups have dismissed these measures as temporary fixes, demanding the permanent shutdown and relocation of the polluting facilities. Activists warn that industrial waste continues to destroy marine life at Chatt Essalam, where fishermen report a sharp decline in fish stocks — threatening livelihoods and deepening the region’s economic woes.
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Source:Africa Publicity
