Jacob Zuma receives medical treatment in Pietermaritzburg hospital

Tunisians stage largest protest in years against President Kais Saied

Thousands of Tunisians took to the streets of the capital on Saturday in what has been described as one of the largest demonstrations against President Kais Saied in recent years. The mass rally in Tunis marked a significant escalation in public displays of dissatisfaction with the current administration. Organized by a broad coalition of interest groups, the event drew massive crowds determined to voice their grievances regarding the country's current trajectory. The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) played a central role in organizing the protest, joined by various opposition parties and civil society groups. This partnership between the country’s most powerful labor organization and political opponents of the President highlights the scale of the movement. The groups successfully mobilized a diverse cross-section of the population to demand changes in how the nation is being governed, focusing on both institutional and economic issues. Participants in the demonstration focused their concerns on two primary areas: the deterioration of political freedoms and the worsening living conditions within the country. Protesters highlighted that the political environment has become increasingly restrictive, threatening the rights of citizens. At the same time, the rally served as a platform to decry the economic situation, as many Tunisians continue to struggle with the day-to-day realities of declining standards of living and financial instability. As the largest protest the capital has seen in years, the event underscores the growing pressure on President Saied to address the multifaceted challenges facing Tunisia. The scale of the weekend's mobilization by the UGTT and its allies indicates a significant shift in the political landscape, suggesting that the government's current policies are meeting with substantial public resistance. The demonstration stands as a major call for reform in both the economic and political spheres.