Overview

• Opponents of President Kais Saied accuse him of authoritarianism, citing his use of the judiciary and police to suppress dissent.
• Pro-Saied supporters countered with a rally in Tunis, rejecting international criticism and voicing support for his leadership.
• Riot police were deployed in large numbers to separate the groups, with no clashes reported during the demonstrations.
• The rallies follow the detention of prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab and harsh prison sentences for opposition leaders, criticized by France, Germany, and the United Nations.
• President Saied, who has ruled by decree since 2021, defends his actions as necessary to combat corruption, rejecting claims of democratic erosion.