TUNIS, 24 July. - (ANA) - Tunisia is witnessing a wave of angry protests across its cities in response to ongoing electricity and water cuts, as the North African country also experiences sweltering temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius (122°F).

 

In Menzel Abderrahmane in the Bizerte governorate, around 65 kilometres (40 miles) away from the capital Tunis, protesters set alight tyres and objects in the city centre on Wednesday night as anger over the cuts mounted.

 

These outages have caused partial disruptions to vital facilities and everyday life, and have also resulted in financial losses for residents and businesses alike.

 

Demonstrations have also taken place in Zaghouan, Nabeul, Monastir, and Sousse, and more.

 

In Ben Aoun, Governorate of Monastir, some demonstrators said that Tunisia's youth are on the verge of "another revolution" if the situation remains ongoing.

 

"Why are people out in the streets protesting? People use fridges, use oxygen, people are sick, people are tired," one man said in a video shared by Tunisian media.

 

Similar scenes could be seen in Zaghouan. Families were protesting on foot and in vehicles, blocking roads to voice their discontent with the ongoing cuts.

 

One hospital, in the northern city of Ariana, said on its Facebook page on Wednesday that it had received an influx of patients suffering from chronic respiratory failure, as a result of the heatwave and power cuts.

 

The Abderrahmane Mami Hospital said it was trying to "mobilise all human and logistical resources to ensure the immediate care of all arriving patients, while maintaining the continuity of health services and providing necessary care under optimal conditions," in response.

 

Demonstrators directed their anger towards President Kais Saied, accusing him of inaction as the power cuts and their impact on daily life have been ongoing for over a week.

 

In an official statement on Thursday, the Tunisian presidency said it was "monitoring the situation closely" and that a meeting was held with his cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the matter.

 

In the meeting, Saied reportedly stressed that these outages "must end immediately".

 

Saied has been the object of much opposition and protests since his tenure as president began in 2019. Tunisians have expressed discontent with the economic situation, rising inflation, as well as a stifling of dissent and critics.

 

Countless politicians, businessmen, journalists, and activists accused of "insulting" Saied or of "terrorism" have been jailed or put on trial since.

 

The power cuts, ongoing since 12 July,  have come as the North African country is experiencing an intense heatwave where temperatures have reached 50 degrees Celsius in certain parts of the country.

 

The Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG) has been implementing strategic power outages to help alleviate pressure on a grid struggling with high energy demand, as temperatures soar.

 

This measure is known as "rolling blackouts" - a term that has become all too familiar to Tunisians. The company maintains that this strategy prevents a total blackout that could plunge the country into darkness.

 

Tunisia has frequently experienced power cuts due to sweltering temperatures, but more specifically in the country’s more interior regions. This year, however, outages were reported across the country’s more major cities, triggering the angry demonstrations.

 

Tunisia’s electricity issues also stem from an overreliance on Algeria for electricity provision, as the country’s demand does not meet its domestic generation. It relies on interconnections with its neighbour for electricity imports, which reach around 10% of Tunisia's total electricity consumption.

 

In turn, cooperation with Algeria for electricity imports puts a strain on the country’s economy.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/24 July 2026 - - -