Tunisia protests dispersed as coronavirus bans are extended

Hundreds of protesters joined anti-government demonstrations in the Tunisian capital as a curfew and a ban on public gatherings were extended.

Demonstrators marched on Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis and demanded economic change and the release of those arrested during clashes with police over the past week.

Tunisia has been hit by the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, with its tourism industry grinding to a halt.

More than one in three people are unemployed, according to the World Bank, and Tunisia's gross domestic product shrunk by 9 per cent while consumer prices continue to increase.

Protesters denounced what they said were broken economic promises from the government.

Protesters and police square off on Avenue Habib Bourguiba on Tuesday. Erin Clare Brown / The National

A scene of overnight clashes between members of the Tunisian security forces and rioters following a protest in the working-class Ettadhamen neighbourhood on the edge of the capital Tunis. Clashes broke out for a third consecutive evening in several Tunisian cities, pitting stone-throwing youths against security forces despite a tight lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. A decade on from the revolution, many Tunisians are increasingly angered by poor public services and a political class that has repeatedly proved unable to govern coherently. AFP

Security forces gather during clashes with demonstrators, at the scene of a protest against living conditions and unemployment in the Tunisian city of Siliana, the capital of the governorate of the same name, about 130 kms southwest of the capital Tunis .
Tunisian security forces arrested dozens of young people after disturbances during two consecutive nights in the capital and other cities, the interior minister said.
The troubles come amid a nationwide lockdown imposed since January 14, as part of efforts to curb the spread of infections by the coronavirus. AFP — Security forces gather during clashes with demonstrators, at the scene of a protest against living conditions and unemployment in the Tunisian city of Siliana, the capital of the governorate of the same name, about 130 kms southwest of the capital Tunis . Tunisian security forces arrested dozens of young people after disturbances during two consecutive nights in the capital and other cities, the interior minister said. The troubles come amid a nationwide lockdown imposed since January 14, as part of efforts to curb the spread of infections by the coronavirus. AFP

Demonstrators clash with security forces during a protest against living conditions and unemployment in the Tunisian city of Siliana, the capital of the governorate of the same name, about 130 kms southwest of the capital Tunis.
Tunisian security forces arrested dozens of young people after disturbances during two consecutive nights in the capital and other cities, the interior minister said.
The troubles come amid a nationwide lockdown imposed since January 14, as part of efforts to curb the spread of infections by the coronavirus. AFP — Demonstrators clash with security forces during a protest against living conditions and unemployment in the Tunisian city of Siliana, the capital of the governorate of the same name, about 130 kms southwest of the capital Tunis. Tunisian security forces arrested dozens of young people after disturbances during two consecutive nights in the capital and other cities, the interior minister said. The troubles come amid a nationwide lockdown imposed since January 14, as part of efforts to curb the spread of infections by the coronavirus. AFP

On Saturday, security forces struggled to contain demonstrators.

“No more fear, the street belongs to the people,” shouted protesters.

The crowd also chanted the slogan of Tunisia’s uprising between 2010 and 2011: “Employment, freedom, dignity.”

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Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd after two hours – the time authorised for the protest.

According to new virus rules announced on Saturday, gatherings will be prohibited in public areas until February 14 and the country's existing 8pm-5am curfew will also be extended until then, Tunisian Health Ministry spokeswoman Nissaf Ben Alaya said.
A group of about 100 protesters marched through the centre of Tunis last Monday, calling for government reform and for both Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi to step down.
About 1,000 people have been arrested during the recent protests, according to estimates by human rights groups.
The International Monetary Fund expects Tunisia's GDP growth to rebound to 3.8 per cent this year as the effects of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic begin to wane.

Tunisia protests dispersed as coronavirus bans are extended

Police use tear gas on demonstrators calling for change as the country struggles with economic crisis