Tunisia: Opposition Gears Up for New Mobilization Against Kais Saied

Thursday 20 August 2026 - 09:29

The challenge to the Tunisian government is set to take a new turn. Opposition parties and figures committed to defending freedoms are announcing a new gathering in Tunis, presented as the third event in a series of recent mobilizations.

Through this new show of strength, opponents of President Kais Saied aim to maintain pressure in the streets and gauge their ability to rally around political, economic, and social criticisms that are permeating the country.

A Mobilization Driven by Various Opposition Forces

The gathering is organized at the call of "Nafas," an initiative bringing together different components opposed to the policy led by the head of state.

Several parties are expected to participate in the mobilization, including Ennahdha, the Republican Party, the National Salvation Front, the Democratic Current, and the Free Destourian Party. Political figures as well as human rights defenders are also expected to attend.

The march is set to start from the Passage square in downtown Tunis, with a particularly confrontational slogan: "Enough of absurdity, enough of failure, enough of injustice."

Beyond the partisan dimension, the organizers seek to make this event a space for convergence for various expressions of discontent towards the government.

The Cost of Living at the Heart of the Protest

The demands are not limited to political institutions. Economic and social difficulties also play a significant role in the protesters' discourse.

The rising cost of living, difficulties faced in some public services, and concerns about social conditions are fueling a protest that is gradually transcending the mere institutional debate.

Previous gatherings held in the capital reportedly brought together several thousand people. Their mobilization now serves as an indicator of the opposition's ability to transform widespread discontent into a collective movement.

Five Years After the Turning Point of July 25, 2021

This new mobilization comes in a political landscape profoundly transformed since the decisions made by Kais Saied on July 25, 2021.

The Tunisian president had then initiated a major break with the prevailing political operation, before gradually strengthening the powers of the presidency.

His opponents have since denounced an excessive concentration of powers and a regression of public freedoms. The government, for its part, defends an approach aimed at reorganizing the state, combating corruption, and pulling the country out of what it considers a political deadlock.