Five years after President Kais Saied consolidated power, Tunisians are facing familiar economic hardships and a closing political space that mirrors pre-revolutionary frustrations.
More than 15 years after the uprising that removed long-term leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the streets of Tunisia are once again echoing with the familiar chants of the 2011 revolution. Citizens are increasingly calling for "employment, freedom, and national dignity," slogans that defined the original movement for change. However, this current wave of discontent is emerging under a vastly different political landscape than the one that followed the initial ouster of the former regime.
The frustration is no longer confined to specific political factions; it is spreading across diverse social and economic strata. As the nation marks five years since President Kais Saied suspended the parliament and dissolved the government, the promise of a more efficient, centralized administration has yet to materialize into the tangible improvements that many citizens expected. While the initial move to consolidate power was welcomed during economic strain has left many questioning the current direction of the country.
The decade following the 2011 revolution was marked urnover and economic stagnation, Tunisians enjoyed a newfound freedom of expression, a thriving civil society, and competitive elections. That period allowed for public debate and a degree of transparency that many observers now argue has been effectively dismantled. Since the events of July 25, 2021, the political environment has undergone a profound transformation, characterized
Critics and international human rights organizations have raised alarms regarding the prosecution of journalists, lawyers, and political activists. High-profile legal actions, such as the widely publicized "conspiracy case," have resulted in long prison sentences for dozens of political figures. Rights groups frequently describe these proceedings as politically motivated and lacking in standard due-process protections. While the authorities maintain that these actions are necessary to protect national security, the impact on public discourse is undeniable, as many activists and media professionals report a climate of increasing censorship and fear.
While President Saied did not create Tunisia's deep-rooted economic challenges, his administration’s performance is increasingly scrutinized through the lens of his own promises. He ascended to power with a mandate to fix a dysfunctional system, yet the country continues to grapple with high unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, and a lack of investment. These structural issues have been exacerbated t have strained the national power grid to its limit.
The resulting electricity outages and chronic water shortages have hit the most vulnerable populations the hardest. In many regions, residents have endured days without running water, forcing them to rely on limited supplies and navigate long queues for basic necessities. This daily struggle for survival has become a primary driver of public anger, overshadowing the political rhetoric of the state. For many, the lack of basic utilities is a stark reminder that the promise of a more responsive government has not been fulfilled.
The current climate in Tunisia is characterized ew movements, such as the Nafas collective, are attempting to bridge the gap between traditional political parties and citizens who have never participated in organized protests. These groups argue that the issues of 2011 remain unresolved, and that the centralization of power has only made it more difficult for citizens to seek accountability for the lack of services, jobs, and social dignity.
Despite the anger, the political landscape remains complex. Many Tunisians remain wary of the political establishment that governed in the decade following the revolution, and some continue to support the president’s efforts to bypass what they view as a failed system. Nevertheless, the inability to address basic needs, combined with the shrinking avenues for peaceful protest and investigation, suggests that the country is at a critical juncture. As citizens look for solutions to their daily struggles, the demand for a government that delivers on its promises—and respects the freedoms won in 2011—remains as urgent as ever.