Tunisian security forces clashed with protesters in the capital Tunis and the southern town of Jebiniana on Thursday, in rare unrest set off by the deaths of two men in incidents involving police.
In Ettadhamen, a suburb of the capital, police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd following the death of a man detained on suspicion of drug dealing. His family stated he died as a result of abuse by police officers, demanding an investigation and accountability. In a conflicting account, local media reported the man died after swallowing drugs. Protesters blocked roads, burned tyres, and threw stones. Police moved to secure a National Guard station in the area.
In Jebiniana, Sfax governorate, police clashed with protesters after a man died. His relatives said he died while being chased by security forces. Tunisian media reported that a vehicle was set ablaze and tyres burned, met by tear gas from police.
Separately in Sfax, students protested the death of a female student who suffered a cardiac problem, accusing ambulance services of a delayed response due to a lack of medical facilities. They called for a strike at Sfax University.
The unrest comes amid a deepening economic, social, and political crisis. It follows the largest protest against President Kais Saied in years last Saturday, where thousands accused him of undermining democracy and mishandling the economy. A military court this week sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of plotting against state security, highlighting the pressure on Saied's opponents.