Tunis, Tunisia – President Kais Saied has extended Tunisia’s long-running state of emergency for another 11 months, keeping the extraordinary measures in place until 31 December 2026.
The emergency law grants authorities sweeping powers, including the ability to:
- Carry out home arrests
- Ban official meetings and assemblies without judicial approval
- Impose curfews
- Censor media and restrict public gatherings
A Decade of Emergency Rule
Tunisia’s state of emergency was first declared on 24 November 2015, following a bomb attack on a bus carrying presidential guards that killed 12 agents. Since then, the measure has been continuously renewed through repeated extensions, shaping the country’s political and civic landscape.
Growing Discontent
Earlier this month, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tunis, voicing frustration over Saied’s increasingly authoritarian rule. Demonstrators criticized the prolonged emergency powers, which many argue have eroded democratic freedoms.
The unrest reflects broader dissatisfaction with Saied’s governance since his July 2021 power grab, when he suspended parliament and expanded executive authority to rule by decree.
Saied’s Justification
Saied has defended his actions as necessary to end years of political chaos and rampant corruption. His government has jailed numerous critics, insisting that the measures are legal and aimed at stabilizing Tunisia’s fragile democracy.
Conclusion
Tunisia’s extension of emergency rule underscores the tension between security concerns and democratic freedoms. As protests grow and opposition voices are silenced, the country faces mounting questions about its political trajectory and the durability of its democratic institutions.
