Thousands of residents marched through the streets of Gabes, a coastal city in southern Tunisia, on Wednesday to protest worsening pollution from the state-owned Chemical Group of Tunisia (CGT) phosphate complex. The demonstrations, which began last week, have grown into one of the largest environmental protests in recent years, increasing pressure on President Kais Saied’s government.
The protesters, chanting slogans such as “We want to live” and “Gabes is crying out for help,” marched toward Chatt Essalam, a coastal suburb where the CGT complex is located. Witnesses said police fired tear gas as demonstrators neared the facility’s headquarters.
Support rallies were also held in the capital, Tunis, signaling growing national outrage over Gabes’ long-running environmental crisis and intensifying calls for government intervention.
Residents accuse the phosphate processing plant of polluting the air and sea, saying it has led to a rise in respiratory illnesses, osteoporosis, and cancer cases in the region. Anger boiled over earlier this month after dozens of schoolchildren reportedly suffered breathing difficulties from toxic fumes emitted by the facility.
CGT did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
“We are raising our voices until this crime stops immediately,” said protester Khaireddine Diba.
President Saied recently described the situation in Gabes as an “environmental assassination,” blaming what he called “criminal policy choices” by past governments. He has urged ministries to repair and maintain the factory’s units to prevent leaks, but protesters reject such temporary measures, demanding the plant’s permanent closure and relocation.
Tunisia’s government faces a difficult balancing act between addressing public health concerns and maintaining phosphate production—one of the country’s most valuable exports—amid an ongoing financial crisis.
Environmental activists warn that tons of industrial waste are dumped daily into the sea at Chatt Essalam, devastating marine ecosystems. Local fishermen say fish stocks have plummeted over the past decade, destroying a key source of livelihood for many families in the region.
Source:Africa Publicity
