Relative calm returns to Tunisian town after mass protests as army deployed

By Adel Elthabti and Rania Abu Shamala

TUNIS, Tunisia/ISTANBUL (AA) - Relative calm returned Thursday to the town of Mezzouna in Tunisia’s Sidi Bouzid Governorate following a general strike and mass demonstrations.

Protests were staged in Mezzouna late Wednesday to condemn the deaths of three students in the collapse of a dilapidated school wall and to denounce the ongoing marginalization of the town.

Protesters rallied against what they described as the government's neglect of Mezzouna and its poor infrastructure.

Commenting on the situation, civil society activist Moemen Garaffa told Anadolu: “Relative calm returned Thursday morning to Mezzouna after a heated night of confrontations between security forces and protesters.”

Garaffa added that the local hospital was overwhelmed Wednesday night due to the heavy use of tear gas and rubber bullets by security forces to disperse the demonstrators.

He noted that a popular march took place Thursday morning involving students, workers and civil society activists. The march called for several demands, foremost among them the withdrawal of security forces and the release of all detainees.

The general strike continued for a third consecutive day, with the closure of shops, government institutions and schools. Following negotiations, security forces reportedly withdrew from the town center, while the national army was deployed to protect institutions, he said.

Garaffa emphasized that despite the anger of the demonstrators, no institutions were targeted, and there were no incidents of looting or chaos.

He added that the town’s residents are planning a peaceful sit-in until their demands for dignity, development and improved living conditions are met.​​​​​​​

Mohamed Essafi, secretary-general of the General Union of Secondary Education, affiliated with the powerful Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), announced in a Facebook post that the school principal, Mohamed Kthiri, was released Thursday afternoon.