Major protests over economic strain and curtailed freedoms

Hundreds of Tunisians protested in the capital Tunis on Saturday against President ​Kais Saied, accusing him of undermining ‌freedoms and presiding over a worsening economic and social crisis, reports Channel Africa. Demonstrators called for ​an end to one-man rule and carried banners denouncing arrests of politicians, journalists and civil society figures, amid concerns of ⁠a widening crackdown on dissent. Protesters also criticised what they ​said was Saied’s failure to tackle the economic crisis, while using the judiciary ​and police to silence critics. Tunisia is facing acute economic strain, with sluggish growth, soaring prices, shortages of medicines and ​some food, financing pressures, and deteriorating public ​services. Saied, who dissolved Parliament and began ruling by decree ‌in ⁠2022, has faced mounting criticism from rights groups over what they say is the dismantling of the post-2011 democratic system. Saied rejects those accusations, saying his ​measures are necessary ​to ⁠save the country from chaos and corruption. The Bar association has called ​for strikes in coming days over ​erosion ⁠of judicial independence, while the journalists’ union plans protests against the jailing of journalists and ⁠restrictions ​on press freedom. Authorities say they ​are enforcing the law and reject accusations of political ​repression.