Thousands of Tunisians marched through central Tunis on 17 October 2026, staging the biggest protest against President Kais Saied since his controversial consolidation of power began in 2021. The demonstration, led by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) alongside civil society and opposition groups, highlighted widespread grievances over economic hardship, restrictions on freedoms, and Saied’s heavy-handed rule.
Protesters gathered along Habib Bourguiba Avenue in the heart of the capital, facing a heavy police presence deployed across the city. The march drew demands for restored democracy, freedom of expression, an independent judiciary, and fair trials, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as “No fear, power belongs to the people!” and “The people want the fall of the regime!”
Slah Eddine Salmi, head of the UGTT, said at the rally, “Silence will no longer be acceptable … the state cannot be built by concentrating all powers in the hand of one person.” Protesters voiced urgent concerns about worsening living conditions. Yassine Gharseli, a marcher from Sfax, stated, “Enough is enough! The country is collapsing. We suffer from power and water cuts, and one crisis after another.”
Since 2021, Saied has seized broad powers, dissolving parliament and dismissing judges to rule by decree, moves widely criticised as a democratic rollback. Reuters and Al Jazeera reported this protest as a growing challenge to his authority, exposing the deepening economic crisis marked by public service decline and shortages.
The march was supported by at least nine trade union and civil society organisations demanding an end to restrictions on freedoms. While some agencies reported the turnout exceeding 3,000 people, these figures remain unconfirmed by independent sources. Nonetheless, the protest’s scale is seen as significant in Tunisia’s tense political landscape.
For South African readers, this event signals how economic pressures combined with political centralisation can fuel mass mobilisation. The Tunisian protest reflects a broader international trend where labour unions and civil society play key roles in contesting authoritarian governance and economic decline.
Cape Flats News will continue to monitor developments in Tunisia and updates on the political responses to this large-scale demonstration.