Tunisians unite in mass protests, demand end to Saied one man rule

Thousands of demonstrators filled streets in central Tunis on December 13 in a rare show of cross ideological unity against President Kais Saied, calling for an end to what they described as his one man rule and demanding the release of those jailed for political reasons. The mobilisation followed weeks of sustained protests that were visible at least as far back as November 22 and continued through early December.

Photographs and reporting documented marches on November 22, and international outlets reported continued demonstrations on December 6 and 7, with one account noting Tunisians took to the streets for a third straight week to denounce an expanding crackdown on critics and non governmental organisations. Estimates of crowd size varied across outlets. Al Jazeera put a Saturday march at at least 2,000 people, while other reports described gatherings as numbering in the hundreds or thousands for different events. Organisers and civil society activists described the December 13 mobilisation as the largest coordinated action to date.

Protesters included family members of political detainees, rights activists, lawyers, journalists and fragmented political parties, a composition analysts said illustrated a rare alignment between secular and Islamist critics of the presidency. Demonstrators wore black, carried whistles and red ribbons, and chanted messages including “the people want the fall of the regime” and “no fear no terror, the street belongs to the people.” Placards read “Enough repression” and “Not my president,” and one rally was held under the banner “Against Injustice.”

A key demand voiced throughout the protests was the immediate release of political prisoners. Rights groups and multiple reports accuse the government of using the judiciary and police to suppress opponents. Reporting cited specific cases, including the five year prison sentence handed to former administrative judge Ahmed Souab, and said dozens of opposition figures, journalists, lawyers and businesspeople have been jailed on security related charges. The government has temporarily suspended several prominent civil society organisations and has been criticized for a widening crackdown on press freedoms that prompted separate protests by journalists.

Said Zouari, a Tunisian journalist quoted by Al Jazeera, said the demonstrations showed new unity among ideologically diverse groups, but he warned that “these protests are not finding any echo in the Carthage Palace,” referencing the presidential residence. Reports also noted that President Saied has denied accusations that he has become a dictator or that he has politicised the judiciary.

The protests complicate an already fragile economic picture for Tunisia. Political uncertainty can deter foreign investment, weigh on tourism revenues and increase borrowing costs at a time when the country faces fiscal pressures and negotiations with international creditors. Market sensitive indicators are likely to respond if the unrest persists or if prosecutions of prominent businesspeople continue. International partners face a dilemma between pressing for rule of law and avoiding steps that could further destabilise public finances.

Journalists and analysts will be watching turnout figures, the legal status of named detainees and any response from the presidency. For now the December 13 mobilisation marks a turning point in visible opposition to Saied, testing whether street pressure can translate into institutional change or further entrenchment of executive power.