Thousands of people took to the streets of Gabes, Tunisia, in a massive march to protest pollution from the state-owned Chemical Group’s phosphate complex.
The protesters demanded the facility’s closure, citing severe environmental pollution and health issues, including increased respiratory illnesses, osteoporosis and cancer.
Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, and protesters retaliated by setting fire to a branch office of the complex’s administration.
President Kais Saied’s government faces growing pressure to address the environmental crisis, balancing public health demands with the economic importance of phosphate production, Tunisia’s most valuable natural resource.
Saied described Gabes as suffering from “environmental assassination” due to past policy choices and called for urgent repairs to stop leaks.
However, protesters reject temporary solutions, demanding permanent closure and relocation of the units.
The protests highlight the dire situation in Gabes, where tons of industrial waste are discharged into the sea daily, severely affecting marine life and local fishermen’s livelihoods. Environmental groups warn of a dramatic decline in fish stocks over the past decade.
Over 120 people have been hospitalized in Gabes amid a surge in reported respiratory problems.
