Tunisia: On the anniversary of the revolution, there are anti-government protests

Thousands of demonstrators are protesting in the Tunisian capital against President Kais Saied's authoritarian trend and calling for his resignation.

The Arab Spring movement, which erupted across the region 12 years ago, is also being commemorated by protesters.

Arab Spring protesters honored the 12-year anniversary of the uprising in Tunis with demonstrations.

Amid chants of "people demand the fall of the dictatorship," thousands of protestors carrying Tunisian flags swarmed the central Avenue Habib Bourguiba on Saturday. This avenue is the lifeblood of Tunis and a critical location for the revolution.

Water cannons and a sizable police force were still present on the roadway in front of the Interior Ministry building.

Despite early attempts by the authorities to keep multiple rival protests that had been called by various political parties and civil society organizations apart, protesters had surged through police and metal barricades to reach the avenue.

The demonstration follows the catastrophic parliamentary elections last month, in which only 11% of voters participated. In order to replace and reform a legislature that Saied dissolved in 2021, elections are being held.

January 29 will be the date of the runoff.

The nation is also experiencing a severe economic crisis, with rising unemployment and inflation. In recent months, Tunisians have been confronted with rising food prices, gasoline shortages, and a lack of staples like rice, sugar, and vegetable oil.

After Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted from office on January 14, 2011, the nation became a developing democracy, which served as an inspiration for the Arab Spring.

Saied, who was elected in 2019, suspended the elected parliament and started to reform the political system, but the low turnout for the election of a new, mostly helpless assembly in December demonstrated little support for his reforms among the general public.

Saied unexpectedly visited Avenue Habib Bourguiba and traveled through the medina on Friday in what appears to be retaliation for criticism. He warned about "intruders and renegades" who would associate with demonstrators to incite conflict.