First street protest against coup in Tunisia

Several hundred people took to the streets in Tunisia on Saturday to protest against President Kais Saied’s seizure of power. On July 25, he dissolved parliament and deposed the prime minister. It was the first street protest against that seizure of power.

Calls were made on social media to protest. The demonstrators gathered on the well-known avenue Habib Bourguiba in the capital Tunis. Hundreds of protesters also showed their support for the president on Saturday. The security forces were present en masse, including with drones, to avoid violence between the two groups.

Saied’s opponents demand that power be re-legitimized. “The people want the coup to end,” it said, or “Constitution, freedom, and dignity.” The demonstrators also included members of the Islamist party Ennahdha.

The president’s seizure of power was initially for a month but was extended on August 24 “until further notice”. The president also promised to preserve liberty and civil rights.