A general strike and mass demonstrations paralysed the southern Tunisian city of Gabes on Tuesday, as tens of thousands of people demanded the closure of a state-run chemical plant blamed for a worsening pollution crisis.
The latest wave of environmental and anti-government protests, fuelled by economic hardship and the collapse of public services, marks the most significant challenge yet to President Kais Saied since he consolidated power in 2021.
Shops, schools, markets and cafés were closed as the powerful UGTT labour union called a general strike, bringing daily life in the coastal city to a halt.
Demonstrators carried banners denouncing pollution caused by the CGT phosphate plant, which they say has endangered the health of thousands of residents. Crowds chanted slogans such as “Gabes wants to live” and “dismantle the polluting units.”
Seeking to ease tensions, President Saied recently described the situation in Gabes as an “environmental assassination,” blaming the policies of former governments for high rates of cancer, respiratory illness, and the destruction of local ecosystems.
However, protesters dismissed his remarks, saying the government’s failure to take firm action to shut down the chemical complex was worsening both the health and environmental crises.
Health Minister Mustapha Ferjani said on Monday that a cancer hospital would be built in Gabes to respond to rising cases, though no timeline was given.
The government fears that unrest in Gabes could trigger wider discontent in other regions, where protests over unemployment and water shortages are frequent.
Facing a deep financial crisis, the authorities are struggling to balance public health concerns with phosphate production, one of Tunisia’s key economic resources.
An audit commissioned by CGT in July, and reviewed by Reuters, found serious breaches of national and international regulations. The report said the plant dumps between 14,000 and 15,000 tonnes of phosphogypsum into the Mediterranean every day and emits high levels of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulphates.
Environmental groups warn that marine life has been severely damaged, with local fishermen reporting a sharp decline in fish stocks over the past decade, devastating a crucial source of income for the region.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea whi...
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washingto...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi have discussed arrangements to ensure the safe passage of shi...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi have discussed arrangements to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury.
At least 44 people have died and more than one million have been stranded due to widespread flooding and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, authorities said on Saturday (11 July).
More than 100 countries now spend more on servicing debt than on education, UNESCO has warned, as it called on governments and international lenders to expand the use of debt-for-education swaps.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled across East Asia as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches China. The typhoon, which has maximum sustained winds of 162 kph (100mph), is nearing a remote chain of Japanese islands, east of Taiwan on Friday.
British police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former government minister whose death was announced on Friday.
China has issued its highest-level rainstorm warning as Typhoon Bavi approaches the country’s eastern coast, prompting large-scale evacuations and emergency preparations across several provinces amid fears of severe flooding and landslides.
As a wildfire swept through the mountains toward rural Andalusian villages near Los Gallardos in southern Spain, residents faced a life-or-death decision. They had to choose between sheltering from the smoke or risking evacuation through rapidly spreading flames.
Known for its rich history and mountain landscapes, Azerbaijan's Gabala district is attracting visitors with another seasonal highlight. Vast lavender fields are becoming a key attraction in the region's growing agritourism sector.
Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph (124 mph), as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.
Southern European countries are preparing for another wave of scorching temperatures on Wednesday, having barely recovered from last month's heatwave. France, Italy, Spain and Portugal are all expected to face extreme heat, while wildfire risks remain high.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment