Hundreds of people gathered in towns and cities in Tunisia on Sunday to protest their government, saying it was failing and corrupt.
Spurred by calls on Facebook for an uprising, demonstrators gathered by the Parliament in Tunis, demanding political change, jobs and economic reform.
“The people want to dissolve Parliament!” protesters shouted in the capital’s streets, under the scorching sun.
July 25 is Republic Day, which commemorates the vote to establish the Tunisian Republic in 1957.
The demonstrations are largely aimed at Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, and the largest party in Parliament, Ennahda, who protesters say are responsible for a failing economy and a worsening healthcare crisis.
“We are fed up. We came out here today to hold accountable the people responsible for killing 20,000 Tunisians,” said Houda, 43, a public-sector employee, referring to the number of Tunisians who have died in the pandemic.
Since overthrowing the dictator Zine El Abedine Ben Ali in 2011, Tunisia has run through 13 governments. Scandal and incompetence have swept dozens of ministers from their posts in short order.
Last year, outsider president Kais Saied appointed a technocratic government that included Mr Mechichi. But since then, the two have fallen out.
President Saied has refused to swear in the Cabinet Mr Mechichi appointed in a reshuffle in January, so much of the administration is run by interim ministers.
The governing crisis extends to the deadlocked Parliament, in which shouting matches and even fist fights have become common.
“Young people have come to understand how serious is the situation in this country,” said Elyes Mhamdi, 34, who was at the protest in Tunis.
“The government and parliament of our beautiful country want to kill us one after the other while they remain in power.”
Ire towards the Islamist Ennahda party, which many young people view as a threat to liberal values, was particularly fierce.
Videos on social media appear to show protesters attacking Ennahda party offices throughout the country, with signs being ripped off buildings in Sousse and Sidi Bouzid.
In the oasis town of Tozeur, videos appear to show people burning documents and files pulled from the party’s local office.
Despite the widespread call on social media, the protests were modest.
Tunis and many other cities are in lockdown as the country battles its fourth wave of Covid-19.
All traffic circulation was halted in the capital for the weekend, and roadblocks were put in place around a central avenue and the Parliament.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds gathered outside the building, chased protesters down narrow alleyways and made several arrests.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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MATCH INFO
World Cup 2022 qualifier
UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm
Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
The specs
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
SHAITTAN
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U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
On racial profiling at airports
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
