Widespread protests erupted across Tunisia on Tuesday following the tragic deaths of three students who were killed when a dilapidated school wall collapsed in the central town of Mazzouna. The incident, which also left two other students critically injured, has sparked public outrage and accusations of government negligence.
According to Civil Defense authorities, the teenagers were preparing for their baccalaureate exams when the wall caved in on Monday. The collapse has been widely viewed as a symbol of Tunisia’s deteriorating public infrastructure and a reflection of the ongoing social and economic crisis facing the country.
In Mazzouna, angry demonstrators took to the streets, setting tires ablaze, blocking roads, and smashing a government vehicle. Shops and schools across the area were shut in protest. Outside the National Guard headquarters, protesters chanted against social neglect and demanded the immediate dismissal of local and national officials.
The wave of anger extended to the capital, Tunis, where hundreds of young people gathered in solidarity. Protesters there called for the government’s resignation and decried the state’s failure to protect students and maintain public institutions.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. A judicial spokesperson confirmed that the school principal has been arrested as part of the inquiry.
The tragedy has intensified scrutiny on Tunisia’s crumbling infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions, and heightened calls for urgent reforms in public service delivery and school safety nationwide.
