Tunisia sees its biggest protest in years against President Kais Saied
Thousands marched down Tunis's Habib Bourguiba Avenue on October 17, led by the powerful UGTT union, demanding the release of jailed critics, trade union rights and relief from shortages and power cuts.
At a glance
- Thousands marched in Tunis on Saturday, October 17, in the largest protest against President Kais Saied in years; one estimate put the crowd at more than 3,000.
- The march was led by the UGTT labour union, joined by opposition parties from across the spectrum, lawyers, doctors, journalists and unemployed people.
- Protesters demanded the release of jailed critics, an end to restrictions on unions, and action on water and power cuts and medicine shortages.
- Saied, who suspended parliament in 2021 and rules with sweeping powers, denies being a dictator and blames opponents for economic crises.
Thousands of Tunisians marched through the capital on Saturday, October 17, in the biggest protest against President Kais Saied in years. The march, led by the powerful UGTT labour union, filled Habib Bourguiba Avenue — the same street that was the heart of the 2011 revolution — with demands for freedom, jobs and an end to shortages.
The protest at a glance
| Date | Saturday, October 17, 2026 |
| Place | Habib Bourguiba Avenue, Tunis |
| Size | Thousands; one estimate said more than 3,000 |
| Led by | Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) |
| Joined by | Opposition parties from left to right, lawyers, doctors, journalists, unemployed people, civil society groups |
| Security | Hundreds of police deployed; several roads closed |
What protesters want
- Release of detained critics — opposition politicians, activists and journalists jailed in recent years.
- An end to restrictions on trade union rights.
- More political freedom.
- Better living conditions — relief from rising prices, recurring water and electricity cuts, and shortages of medicines and basic goods.
- Jobs — unemployment, especially among young people, remains a major source of anger.
Placards read "No democracy without freedoms" and "No dignity with poverty", while crowds chanted "No fear, power belongs to the people" and "Prisons are full, people are hungry". Some marchers revived a slogan from 2011 calling for the government to go.
What they said
UGTT Secretary-General Salah Eddine Salmi criticised the concentration of power in the presidency and said "silence will no longer be acceptable".
Yassine Gharseli, who travelled about 250km from Sfax, said the country was collapsing under power and water cuts and "one crisis after another". He said he came "to stand up for my freedom" and would not give up "even if I become the last voice in the country".
Background: from revolution to one-man rule
Tunisia's 2011 uprising ousted long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring. The country then held competitive elections and was seen as the region's one democratic success story.
That changed in July 2021, when Saied suspended parliament and dismissed the government, citing corruption and political deadlock. He later dissolved parliament, dismissed dozens of judges and ruled by decree. A new constitution in 2022 gave the presidency sweeping powers. Opponents call it a coup; rights groups say a crackdown on journalists, civil society and opposition figures has intensified since.
Saied rejects the accusations, says he is not a dictator, and accuses opponents of engineering economic crises to stir unrest.
Why this protest matters
Years of division had left the opposition unable to bring out large crowds. Saturday's turnout — with the UGTT, Tunisia's biggest organised force, at its head — is the most serious street challenge to Saied in years. It follows smaller rallies against rising prices in August and a two-day strike by fuel transport workers last month.
Tunisia's economy is under heavy strain, with high debt, weak growth and frequent shortages, which makes the union's backing of political demands especially significant.
What happens next
The UGTT has signalled that it will keep up pressure. The government has not responded publicly to the march. Further protests or strikes — and the authorities' reaction to them — will show whether Saturday marks the start of a wider movement.
Questions people are asking
Why are people protesting in Tunisia?
Protesters accuse President Kais Saied of crushing dissent and mishandling the economy. They want jailed critics released, union rights respected, more political freedom and relief from rising prices, power and water cuts and shortages of medicines.
What is the UGTT?
The Tunisian General Labour Union, the country's largest and most influential trade union federation. It played a key role after the 2011 revolution and led the October 17, 2026, march.
What did Kais Saied do in 2021?
In July 2021 he suspended parliament and dismissed the government, later dissolving parliament, dismissing dozens of judges and ruling by decree. A 2022 constitution expanded presidential powers. Opponents call it a coup; Saied says he acted to save the country.
