Summary:

On 15 October 2025, thousands of residents took to the streets of Gabes, in southern Tunisia, to protest worsening air pollution which the demonstrators linked to the state-owned Chemical Group of Tunisia (GCT) phosphate-processing complex.  

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The demonstration, organized by local citizens, activists from the “Stop Pollution” campaign, and the Gabes branch of the Lawyers’ Association, took place in front of the governorate headquarters under the slogan “The people want the dismantling of the units.” 

Protesters demanded immediate action to end decades of toxic air pollution. The protest escalated when demonstrators tried to march toward the GCT complex in a restricted military zone. Police fired tear gas, causing several injuries, and 25 people were arrested, 18 of whom were placed in pre-trial detention, according to Ahmed Chelbi of the Tunisian League for Human Rights. 

The unrest was sparked by a recent gas leak near the GCT facility that sent dozens of residents, including children, to hospitals. The incident reignited public outrage over long-standing pollution from the phosphate industry, which locals blame for the collapse of the Gulf of Gabes ecosystem and widespread health problems. 

In response, President Kais Saied met with parliamentary and regional leaders, highlighting that urgent measures are being implemented in Gabes and a broader strategy for the region is underway, while praising the civic responsibility of the city’s residents. 

Outlook: 

The situation in Gabes is likely to remain tense unless authorities take visible and sustained action. While President Saied’s announcement of urgent measures and a broader regional strategy may provide short-term reassurance, residents’ longstanding frustration with decades of pollution and government inaction suggests that protests could continue or recur.  

The government faces the challenge of balancing economic priorities, given the phosphate industry’s importance to exports, with urgent public health and environmental concerns. The phosphate sector has, on occasion, been a flagship sector for the current administration, with its restoration being a matter of national pride. 

Failure to deliver concrete improvements such as stricter pollution controls, plant modernization or relocation, and transparent communication with the community could deepen mistrust, fuel further mobilization, and draw increased scrutiny from human rights and environmental groups both domestically and internationally. 

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