‘We want to breathe’: Hundreds march in Tunisia’s capital over worsening pollution

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through central Tunis on Saturday to protest an escalating environmental crisis linked to pollution from a state-run chemical complex in the southern city of Gabes.

The unrest, which began locally, has now spread beyond the region, reflecting growing nationwide anger over the government’s handling of pollution and deteriorating public services.

The demonstrations mark one of the most significant challenges to President Kais Saied since he consolidated power in 2021. Residents in Gabes have long complained of mounting health problems  including respiratory diseases, osteoporosis and cancer — which they attribute to toxic emissions from phosphate plants operated by the state chemical group. The facilities reportedly discharge thousands of tonnes of waste into the Mediterranean each day.

The latest protests were sparked earlier this month when dozens of schoolchildren were hospitalised after inhaling fumes from a phosphate-processing plant that produces phosphoric acid and fertilisers.

Marchers in Tunis held placards and chanted in solidarity with Gabes residents, accusing authorities of “repression.” The government, meanwhile, said several people had been detained for acts of violence during the demonstrations.

”It’s that simple, the people of Gabes want to breathe,” Hani Faraj, a protester from the “Stop Pollution” campaign, told Reuters. ”Gabes is dying slowly … We will not remain silent. We will escalate our peaceful protests.”

Saied’s administration fears protests in the capital could spark unrest elsewhere in Tunisia, deepening pressure as it struggles with a prolonged economic downturn and political instability.

Saied has described the situation in Gabes as an ”environmental assassination,” blaming criminal policy choices by a previous government.

In an effort to quell the protests, he has called for repairs to the industrial units to stop leaks as an immediate step. Health Minister Mustapha Ferjani said this week the government would build a cancer hospital in Gabes to deal with rising cases.

However, protesters have rejected the fixes as temporary, and are demanding the polluting facilities be permanently shut and relocated.

Environmental groups warn that tons of industrial waste are discharged daily into the sea at Chatt Essalam, severely damaging marine life. Local fishermen have reported a sharp decline in fish stocks over the past decade, threatening a vital source of income for many in the region.

With inputs from agencies