Thousands marched in Tunis to mark five years since President Kais Saied declared a national emergency, suspended parliament and moved to rule by decree. The Nafas coalition and opposition parties including Jomhouri and Ennahdha mobilised demonstrators who called for Saied to resign, demanded the release of political prisoners and revived slogans from the 2011 uprising. Critics say Saied's measures have rolled back democratic gains, while the president insists his actions are needed to fight corruption and prevent chaos.
Thousands Rally in Tunis Demanding Saied's Resignation on Fifth Anniversary of Emergency Rule
Prominent Tunisian opposition figures lead the protest against President Kais Saied on July 25, 2026 [Fethi Belaid/AFP]
Thousands of Tunisians took to the streets of the capital on Saturday to demand the resignation of President Kais Saied, protesting deteriorating living standards, a perceived rollback of democratic rights and what demonstrators called widespread mismanagement of state affairs.
Protest Marches Along Historic Avenue
Crowds marched along Habib Bourguiba Avenue after setting out from Republic Square and moving toward the Municipal Theatre, carrying flags and banners rejecting the national programme Saied calls the 'July 25 path'. Organisers said the demonstration marked the fifth anniversary of Saied's declaration of a national emergency, the suspension of parliament and its eventual dissolution, which enabled him to govern largely by decree.
Voices and Organisers
The protest, convened by Nafas — an umbrella initiative of opposition parties and independent figures — brought together established parties such as Jomhouri and Ennahdha as well as ordinary citizens angered by shrinking freedoms and a struggling economy. Chants called for Saied to 'leave' and demanded 'freedom, work and national dignity', reviving slogans from Tunisia's 2011 uprising.
'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,' said Wissam Sghaier, spokesman for the Jomhouri party. 'We are not tenants of this country, we are its owners. If for that reason they fabricate cases against us and imprison our friends and comrades, prisons are welcome — we are ready to pay the price.'
Imed al-Khamiri, a spokesman for Ennahdha, told Al Jazeera Arabic that the protests had expanded beyond traditional party supporters to include citizens frustrated by the government's handling of public services and the economy.
Background: Democratic Gains Under Strain
Tunisia's democratic transition began after the 2011 ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, followed by free elections and a constitution that enshrined political freedoms. Critics say many of those gains have been eroded since Saied assumed emergency powers: authorities have dismissed large numbers of judges, criminalised media content deemed false, and detained senior opposition figures.
Among the most prominent detainees is former parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi, 85, a central figure in Tunisia's post-2011 reforms. Ghannouchi was sentenced in June to life plus 30 years on charges described by authorities as terrorism-related; his family and supporters have reported declining health and recent fainting spells attributed to prison conditions.
Saied's Position
President Saied maintains that his actions are necessary to fight corruption and avoid chaos, rejecting accusations that his measures have curtailed fundamental rights and freedoms. The standoff leaves Tunisia at a crossroads between protesters calling for a return to more pluralistic governance and a presidency that says strong measures are required to restore order.
What Happens Next: Analysts say future developments will hinge on whether opposition groups can sustain pressure and on Saied's response, both politically and through security measures.
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