Thousands of protesters gathered in Tunis on July 25, 2026, to demand the resignation of President Kais Saied. The rally marked five years since the president suspended parliament, an anniversary that saw demonstrators decry democratic backsliding, economic mismanagement, and the imprisonment of political figures during an ongoing state of emergency.
Protests on Habib Bourguiba Avenue
On Saturday, crowds marched from Republic Square toward the Municipal Theatre along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, a location that served as the epicenter of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution. Demonstrators carried flags and banners while chanting slogans such as the people want the fall of the regime
and calls for freedom, work and national dignity.
The event was organized by Nafas, an umbrella initiative representing a coalition of opposition parties and independent figures. According to reports, the protest drew a wider demographic than previous actions, with citizens expressing frustration over the state of public services and the broader economic climate in the country.
Opposition Perspectives on the July 25 Path
The march served as a direct rejection of the political framework President Saied refers to as the July 25 path.
Opposition leaders framed the rally as a necessary act of accountability against a government they accuse of monopolizing power and eroding the democratic gains made after the ousting of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January of 2011.
“We took to the streets today to hold the system of governance to account and to expose its failures, because it is our role as political and civil forces. And to use popular Tunisian expressions: We are not tenants of this country, we are its owners. If for that reason they’re going to fabricate cases against us and accuse us, then when our friends and comrades are imprisoned today, prisons are welcome. We are ready to pay the price.”
Wissam Sghaier, spokesman for the Jomhouri opposition party
Imed al-Khamiri, a spokesman for the Ennahdha party, told Al Jazeera Arabic that the protests had expanded beyond traditional opposition parties to include a wider circle of citizens disaffected by the government’s handling of economic issues and public services.
Political Imprisonment and State Policy
The protests highlighted the status of political prisoners held since President Saied invoked emergency powers. Among those frequently cited by protesters is Rached Ghannouchi, the 85-year-old former parliament speaker. Ghannouchi was sentenced in June to life imprisonment plus 30 years on terrorism charges, and reports suggest his health has deteriorated, noting he recently fainted from the conditions of imprisonment.
Since instituting rule by decree, the administration has dismissed dozens of judges and introduced measures criminalizing the spread of media content deemed false by the government. While opponents characterize these actions as a reversal of Tunisia’s democratic transition process, President Saied maintains that his measures are necessary to tackle corruption and prevent chaos, consistently denying allegations that he has curtailed fundamental rights.
Contextualizing Public Service and Emergency Trends
The unrest in Tunis highlights a broader trend of public dissatisfaction, though the nature of emergency-related calls varies significantly by region. In other contexts, such as in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, emergency service calls related to fireworks recently rose by 36 percent during the 2026 season. Between June 1 and July 5, Cedar Rapids police reported 484 total calls for service, up from 356 last year, though remaining below the 636 calls in 2024 and 643 in 2023.
The Cedar Rapids fire department reported 11 total fires related to fireworks during this window, including a garbage can fire that spread to a home, though most were small grass fires or located in dumpsters and garbage cans. The peak period for fire department calls occurred between 8 p.m. and midnight on July 4. Police issued ten citations this year. Medical reports from the region included UnityPoint Finley Hospital in Dubuque, which reported three adults and one child hurt between July 3-5; UnityPoint St. Luke’s reported three people with minor injuries between July 1-3 in Cedar Rapids and Marion; and University of Iowa Health Care emergency departments reported “a couple” of injuries. MercyOne Dubuque and MercyOne Waterloo reported no injuries.
As of late July 2026, the political situation in Tunisia remains stagnant, with the government showing no signs of pivoting from the emergency policies established five years ago. Whether the renewed public pressure will impact the administration’s grip on power or lead to further crackdowns remains a central, unresolved question for the coming months.
