Tunisia: Anger simmers after water and electricity cuts

The heatwave and shortages of essential services are fueling protests that are now directly targeting President Kaïs Saïed.

In Tunis, the heat is no longer the only source of frustration. Several hundred people marched on Thursday, August 20, to protest water and electricity cuts, the rising cost of living, and the erosion of freedoms. Among the demonstrators, slogans directly targeted President Kaïs Saïed, with some protesters calling for his resignation.

The rally was organized by Nafas, a new collective aiming to unite opposition parties, independent activists, and citizens who have historically had little involvement in political mobilizations. The demands expressed on placards and in speeches blended everyday needs with criticism of the government.

The heatwave is putting public services under pressure

Tunisia is experiencing a summer marked by extreme temperatures, which have reached up to 50 degrees Celsius in some regions. Electricity demand has soared to record levels. To avoid a widespread power outage, the state-owned utility has implemented load shedding in several areas.

These interruptions had a domino effect. The pumping stations run on electricity, which exacerbated the difficulties in accessing drinking water. In several neighborhoods, families had to queue to fill jerrycans or search for bottles in shops that were quickly emptied.

The shortage of bottles was also exacerbated by the slowdown at some factories. Extended power outages disrupted production, while manufacturers faced difficulties in obtaining plastic supplies. For many Tunisians, the crisis is therefore no longer a mere summer inconvenience. It affects food, hygiene, employment, and household budgets.

This unrest is reminiscent of tensions seen elsewhere in North Africa. In July, residents of Tripoli also protested against power cuts, which have become a symbol of the deterioration of public services.

Social demands that have become political

In Tunis, the protesters did not limit themselves to the power cuts. They denounced the shortage of medicine, rising prices, and the loss of purchasing power. Several participants felt that the daily struggles revealed a lack of vision and institutions incapable of meeting basic needs.

The political tone has hardened. Slogans heard during the 2011 revolution have resurfaced, notably calls for the government's departure. Other placards demanded the release of political prisoners and an end to restrictions imposed on the media, civil society, and critical voices.

The Nafas collective, created in May, seeks precisely to connect these two dimensions. Its discourse begins with water, electricity, and food, but it also aims to rebuild a broader opposition. The presence of young teachers and influencers shows that the protest is attempting to move beyond the usual activist circles.

Kais Saied faces more direct opposition

Elected in 2019, Kais Saied has concentrated much of the power in his own hands since July 2021, when he suspended Parliament and dismissed the government. His opponents speak of an authoritarian drift. The president, for his part, claims to be defending the state against corruption and foreign interference.

For the past five years, prosecutions against politicians, journalists, and activists have multiplied. A law passed in 2022 against the dissemination of false information is regularly cited by civil liberties advocates, who fear its use against critics of the government.

Political tension is heightened by other controversies. In the spring, comments made by a Tunisian MP about sub-Saharan migrants provoked outrage and reignited the debate on the political climate in the country.

The latest demonstrations are marked above all by a change in vocabulary. Calls for Kaïs Saïed's departure have become more explicit. For the government, this radicalization can be presented as a maneuver by the opposition. For the protesters, on the contrary, it reflects anger stemming from very concrete problems, starting with the lack of water and electricity.

A crisis that goes beyond the capital

The rally in Tunis is not an isolated incident. Hundreds of social movements have been recorded in recent weeks across the country, often centered around water shortages and power cuts. The interior regions, already grappling with unemployment and a lack of investment, feel particularly neglected.

The situation presents the government with a dual emergency. It must stabilize the water and electricity networks during a period of exceptional heat, while simultaneously addressing growing political distrust. A rapid improvement in services could alleviate some of the pressure. But without a lasting solution, the outages risk becoming a rallying point for broader protests.

For the Tunisians who took to the streets, the demand can be summed up in a few words: access to water, electricity, and a dignified life. The message to Kaïs Saïed is now clear. Patience is wearing thin, and everyday problems are fueling an increasingly vocal opposition.