Tunisia: Tunisia’s deepening political rift has taken a grave turn as Rached Ghannouchi, the veteran leader of the Islamist Ennahda Movement and former Speaker of Parliament, began a hunger strike from his prison cell. His action marks the third such protest by an opposition figure in recent weeks, highlighting growing outrage over what critics describe as politically motivated detentions under President Kais Saied’s administration.
Ghannouchi, aged 84 and one of Tunisia’s most prominent political figures, joined the hunger strike in solidarity with two other detained leaders Jawhar Ben Mbarek and Issam Chebbi both of whom have refused food to protest their imprisonment. Ghannouchi, who has been incarcerated since 2023, is serving a combined 37-year sentence on charges ranging from foreign funding to plotting against state security.
According to his legal team, the Ennahda leader decided to begin the strike as a moral stance against what he considers “the criminalization of dissent.” His decision follows reports that Ben Mbarek’s health has deteriorated significantly due to his prolonged protest, sparking concern among human rights advocates.
The Tunisian Prison Authority has insisted that the condition of all detainees remains “stable and closely monitored.” However, lawyers and family members dispute this claim, warning that the hunger strikers’ health may soon reach a critical point. Activists have accused the government of ignoring international norms by detaining political opponents under vague security-related charges.
Ben Mbarek, a prominent constitutional law expert and member of the National Salvation Front, has been on hunger strike for several weeks. Issam Chebbi, the leader of the Republican Party, began his protest on Friday, stating that Tunisia’s prisons had become “a mirror of political repression.”
The hunger strikes come amid mounting accusations that President Kais Saied has dismantled Tunisia’s democratic framework since 2021, when he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree. Saied defends his actions as necessary to “save the nation” from corruption and instability, but opposition groups and international observers view them as a de facto coup.
Over the past year, multiple opposition leaders, journalists, and critics have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms some as high as 66 years on charges of conspiracy and threats to state security. Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned these actions as politically motivated efforts to silence dissent.
Once hailed as the lone success story of the Arab Spring, Tunisia now finds itself in a state of democratic regression. The mass arrests of opposition figures, restrictions on free speech, and consolidation of presidential power have eroded the democratic gains achieved over the past decade.
Analysts note that Ghannouchi’s decision to undertake a hunger strike while serving a lengthy sentence symbolizes the desperation within Tunisia’s opposition ranks. It reflects a belief that traditional avenues for justice and dialogue have been exhausted. The strike also risks escalating tensions between the government and the opposition, particularly if any of the detainees suffer severe health consequences.
The international community is closely watching Tunisia’s deteriorating political climate. Western governments and human rights organizations have repeatedly urged Tunisian authorities to respect due process and release political prisoners. A worsening situation especially if the hunger strikes lead to fatalities could provoke global outrage and threaten Tunisia’s relations with key allies.
At home, the hunger strikes are slowly galvanizing civil society and opposition groups, who see them as a moral test of Tunisia’s future. Protesters have begun small vigils outside the capital, calling for an end to what they describe as “state-engineered repression.”
Tunisia’s leadership now faces a pivotal moment. President Saied must decide whether to respond with dialogue or double down on his hardline approach. The fate of the hunger strikers particularly that of Rached Ghannouchi, a political figure with enduring influence could shape Tunisia’s political trajectory for years to come.
For now, the country stands at a crossroads between renewed authoritarianism and the hope of democratic restoration. As the hunger strikes continue, they have come to symbolize not only personal sacrifice but also Tunisia’s broader struggle for justice, dignity, and the rule of law.