Rare unrest flares in Tunisian capital as police clash with protesters

Tunisian police engaged in confrontations with demonstrators in the Ettadhamen suburb of the capital on Thursday, following the death of an individual detained on suspicion of drug trafficking. The clashes occurred amidst escalating tensions due to Tunisia's economic, social, and political turmoil. The man's family claims he was killed by police during his arrest, demanding an investigation and accountability.

However, local media reported that he died from drug ingestion. The interior ministry did not provide immediate comment.

Protesters obstructed roads, burned tires, and hurled stones at authorities. In response, security forces deployed tear gas and worked to control a National Guard facility nearby. On Thursday, similar altercations erupted in the southern town of Jebeniana after another man's death, allegedly during a security pursuit. Additionally, clashes took place in Agareb, also in Sfax governorate.

In Sfax, student demonstrators protested the death of a female student who perished due to a cardiac issue. Her peers alleged that ambulance services delayed their response due to inadequate medical resources, leading to a call for a strike at Sfax's universities the following day. Thousands of Tunisians participated in the largest protest against President Kais Saied in recent memory on Saturday, criticizing his rule for undermining democracy and managing the economy poorly.