Tunisia: Protests and Clashes Spread Across Tunis and Sfax

What changed

Protests and clashes broke out on 23 October in Tunis and several locations in Sfax governorate. Protesters blocked roads, burned tyres and threw stones, while security forces used tear gas and moved to secure a National Guard station.

The unrest followed disputed deaths and concerns over emergency medical care. In Jebeniana, relatives said a man died during a security chase; in Sfax, students protested after a female student died during a reported cardiac emergency. Her colleagues said an ambulance took too long to arrive, and Sfax faculties were expected to face a strike on Friday.

Why it matters

This was not one isolated confrontation. Anger appeared in several places at once, tied to policing, public services and worsening living conditions.

The dispute over the man's death could become a focal point. His family blamed violence by police after his arrest, while local media reported that he died after swallowing drugs. The interior ministry had not commented when the clashes were reported, leaving the central allegation unresolved.

The Sfax student protest adds a different pressure point: whether people can get urgent medical help when they need it. A planned faculty strike would carry that grievance into the next day, while the clashes in Tunis, Jebeniana and Agareb show how quickly local anger can spread across the same governorate and the capital.

The wider outlook is uncertain. If authorities do not clarify the disputed death and address the emergency-response concerns, further protests are possible. The latest unrest comes after thousands joined the largest protest against President Kais Saied in years, accusing him of weakening democracy and mishandling the economy.