GABES, Tunisia – A general strike halted most commercial and public activity in the southern Tunisian city of Gabes on Tuesday, as thousands of residents protested a state-owned chemical plant they say is responsible for significant environmental pollution and health problems in the region.
The strike, called by Tunisia’s main trade union, the UGTT, saw the closure of shops, markets, and schools throughout the coastal city on Oct. 22. Protesters marched through the streets with banners and chanted slogans including “Gabes wants to live,” demanding the government close the chemical facility operated by the Groupe Chimique Tunisien (CGT).
The protest follows recent statements from Tunisian President Kais Saied, who described the situation in Gabes earlier this month as an “environmental assassination.” According to reports, Saied attributed the pollution to what he called the policy choices of previous authorities, linking them to increased rates of cancer and respiratory illnesses and damage to local ecosystems.
In response to health concerns, Health Minister Mustapha Ferjani announced on Monday that the government plans to build a new cancer hospital in Gabes. However, a timeline for the project was not provided.
The demands for the plant’s closure are part of a long-standing issue for the community. In 2017, the Tunisian government had pledged to gradually decommission the facility. This year, however, officials announced plans to increase production at the plant.
Environmental organizations and local residents have raised concerns about the plant’s impact on the Gulf of Gabes. Fishermen in the area have reported a significant decline in fish stocks over the past decade, affecting a primary source of local income. The protests and strike reflect the continued tensions over the plant’s environmental impact and its role in the regional economy.
