Tunisia’s civil society faces growing pressure as crackdown widens

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Published: 2026-09-02T06:36:06.446Z • Permanent link

Tunisia's civil society is facing growing pressure as the government's crackdown widens. President Kais Saied's regime has been cracking down on opposition voices, arresting activists, and shutting down non-governmental organizations. Saied, a former judge and a former head of the Constitutional Assembly, has been consolidating power since the 2019 revolution that ousted the country's long-time dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

On March 18, 2022, Saied issued a decree that suspended the work of the Independent National Authority for Human Rights, effectively shutting it down. The organization, which was established in 2014, had been a key watchdog over the government's human rights record. The decree was seen as a major blow to the country's civil society, which has been a driving force behind the revolution. Since then, the government has arrested numerous activists, including prominent opposition leader Lotfi Majeri, who was arrested on February 27, 2022, on charges of "inciting rebellion".

Saied's regime has also been using social media to silence opposition voices. The government has been accused of censoring opposition politicians and activists on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. In one notable case, the government blocked the Twitter account of the Tunisia-based non-governmental organization, Human Rights Watch, citing "security concerns". The move was seen as a major blow to the organization's ability to monitor human rights abuses in the country.

The crackdown on civil society in Tunisia has major implications for the country's democratic institutions and the global human rights community. Tunisia is a key player in the region, and its government's actions are closely watched by international observers. The country is also a major hub for human rights research and activism, with numerous non-governmental organizations operating in the country.

The government's actions have also had a major impact on the global human rights community. Human Rights Watch, which has been operating in Tunisia for over a decade, has been forced to suspend its operations in the country. The organization's country director, Joana Chouva, said in a statement that the government's actions were "a major blow to the country's democratic institutions and the global human rights community". The move has also sparked concerns among researchers and analysts, who are worried about the impact on the country's fragile democracy.

The crackdown on civil society in Tunisia is part of a larger trend of authoritarianism in the region. Countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have all been cracking down on opposition voices and civil society organizations in recent years. The trend is seen as a major threat to democratic institutions and human rights in the region.