A leader’s health, a nation’s pulse
Stories spreading across Tunisia point to declining health for President Kais Saied. As a leader who now seems to be facing personal health challenges during a difficult national moment, these developments have led to urgent questions about who might step in if he is unable to govern and how strong the country’s political systems really are. The relationship between a leader’s condition and the general stability of the government is especially clear now, as Tunisia deals with many complex challenges.
Public services buckling under strain
Across the country, Tunisians are experiencing long periods without water and electricity, with some areas going without power or clean water for as many as 14 days. These outages are happening just when the demand for these essential services is at its highest, in the middle of a brutal summer. Families already struggling financially are being pushed into deeper hardship by the inability of public infrastructure to meet basic needs. Though similar problems have happened in the past, the anger and frustration among the population are more intense now than ever before.
In late 2025, residents of Gabes, a coastal town in southeast Tunisia, took to the streets after a phosphate plant released harmful emissions, leading to illness and environmental damage. This incident revealed the government’s weak ability to manage fundamental issues like pollution and infrastructure. The event became a rallying point for broader public dissatisfaction and triggered a wave of protests.
Energy plans not fast enough to solve current failures
A bill passed in 2015 sought to open up the energy market to private producers and promote renewable energy, but progress has been slow. A 2022 proposal to produce and export green hydrogen showed promise, but the necessary steps to make it happen have yet to be fully implemented. With electricity demand climbing each year, especially during the peak summer months, the state-owned electricity company STEG is finding it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the population. The company simply doesn’t have the capacity to handle the growing strain on the energy grid.
Work on the 2015 law has not been completed, and private energy developers are still waiting for faster approvals for key projects, including new solar plants in the southern regions. Although collaborations with China to utilize photovoltaic technology might help speed up the Tunisian Solar Plan, the goal of using renewables to supply a third of the country’s energy is still several years away. For the moment, the country remains heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, particularly gas from Algeria.
The ongoing subsidies for electricity contribute to the government’s financial struggles. STEG’s debt is in the hundreds of millions, and the state-run water company SONEDE is in a similar situation, selling water at prices dictated by government mandates rather than market dynamics.
Structural weaknesses deepen reliance, stall progress
Tunisia’s major state-owned enterprises are now collectively in debt equal to about one-third of the nation’s GDP. These firms, including the national airline and port operations, have long been plagued by mismanagement. A January 2026 audit showed losses surpassing 300 million dinars just in those sectors.
The country’s economy is largely built around low-value exports like dates, olive oil, and raw phosphates. These industries don’t create much additional economic value, which makes it hard for Tunisia to compete in the global marketplace. At the same time, the unpredictability of foreign aid and remittances complicates financial planning. The decision to reject International Monetary Fund loans, in the name of preserving sovereignty, has left the government with fewer tools to support essential programs.
Saied’s consolidation of power complicates the crisis
Since taking control in July 2021, Saied has steadily taken over more power, dismantling democratic protections and shifting the country toward a more authoritarian model. These moves have weakened the checks and balances that once existed and have sidelined dissenting voices. Protests that were once about broad calls for change now include direct demands for Saied’s resignation. Protesters are now displaying
signs that demand his removal
as part of a growing movement calling for an end to his leadership.