On October 15, 2025, the southern Tunisian city of Gabes erupted in protest, as thousands of residents marched through the streets to demand an end to what they describe as decades of environmental neglect and worsening pollution from a phosphate-processing plant. The demonstration, marked by chants of "Gabes wants to breathe!" and "We have the right to live in a clean city!", quickly descended into chaos as police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds, resulting in injuries to both demonstrators and riot police, according to the Associated Press.
The catalyst for this most recent wave of unrest was a gas leak near the state-owned Chemical Group of Tunisia (GCT) industrial complex that sent dozens of people, including children, to local hospitals. Environmental activist group Stop Pollution reported that the leak, which occurred just days before the protest, led to a spike in respiratory illnesses and even cases of paralysis among residents. "They refused to tell us what was causing people to get sick, even children were hospitalized, and some developed paralysis," Hanen, a 30-year-old resident who declined to provide her last name, told the Associated Press. "They disregarded our worries and called us liars, and that drove people angry … We want this complex dismantled, and we will not stop until it happens."
Gabes, a coastal city home to more than 400,000 people, has long been at the heart of Tunisia’s phosphate industry, a sector that provides vital export revenue for the nation. The GCT plant, which processes raw phosphate into fertilizer, has operated for 53 years and is a major supplier to markets across Europe and Asia. Yet, as France 24 and AFP reported, the facility’s proximity to residential neighborhoods has made it a lightning rod for criticism, with locals blaming its operations for elevated cancer rates, persistent respiratory diseases, and the collapse of the region’s once-thriving fishing industry. Beaches are now strewn with waste, groundwater is polluted, and the air is saturated with chemicals, residents say.
The October 15 protest was not an isolated event but the culmination of mounting frustration. Just the previous day, 122 people, including many schoolchildren, were treated or hospitalized for symptoms ranging from suffocation and fainting to leg pain and numbness—ailments attributed to the plant’s emissions. This was the third such episode since early September, with similar hospitalizations reported on September 9 and October 10, as detailed by AFP. Footage circulating on social media showed unconscious children being carried by firefighters, while ambulances rushed victims to medical facilities with oxygen masks strapped to their faces.
By nightfall, the city’s streets resembled a battleground. Tear gas mingled with the acrid smoke of burning tires and trash bins as protesters blocked major roads and attempted to reach the industrial complex—a designated military zone. The police response, which protesters and observers have described as "disproportionate," sparked outrage across Tunisia. Amnesty International, in a June report, condemned the repression of environmental activists, noting that those who peacefully protest are often arrested, investigated, or prosecuted. Indeed, in June, three Gabes protesters were sentenced to prison terms of two to four months for disturbing public order.
The anger in Gabes is fueled by a sense of betrayal. Successive governments have made promises to relocate or modernize the plant, with a 2017 pledge still unfulfilled. Environmental groups argue that these pledges have amounted to little more than lip service. The National Observatory for Agriculture has repeatedly warned that air quality in parts of Gabes exceeds limits set by the World Health Organization, with persistent high levels of sulfur dioxide and ammonia—pollutants known to cause respiratory damage and contribute to acid rain.
In a rare admission, the GCT acknowledged "major non-conformities" in its operations during a July 2025 environmental audit, citing excessive ammonia and other emissions that fall short of global environmental standards. Yet, despite this acknowledgment, residents say they have seen no meaningful action. President Kais Saied, responding to the crisis, ordered the formation of an urgent joint commission to address protesters’ demands. In a statement earlier this week, he said, "Serious failures were found in maintenance and testing that led to gas leaks. There will be no tolerance for those who neglected their duties. The people of Gabes will receive their full rights."
President Saied has gone so far as to label the situation an "ecological assassination," dispatching teams from the industry and environment ministries to assess the damage. At the same time, however, he has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting a "green Tunisia, free of all pollution," even as the state seeks to capitalize on rising global phosphate prices. In March 2025, the government controversially reclassified phosphogypsum, a hazardous waste product from fertilizer production, as a material that can be exploited under certain conditions. Saied has also ordered a near fivefold increase in fertilizer production—up to 14 million tonnes per year by 2030—a move aimed at boosting the economy but one that environmentalists say could exacerbate Gabes’ woes.
The economic stakes are high. Phosphate is Tunisia’s main natural resource, and the GCT’s output is vital to the country’s financial stability, especially amid a broader economic crisis. Yet, as the protests have demonstrated, many in Gabes feel the price of progress has been paid with their health and environment. Local NGOs, including the Tunisian Human Rights League, have joined the chorus of voices calling for the "dismantling of polluting plants and the establishment of a regional development model as an alternative to slow death and pollution." Social media campaigns, such as the hashtag "We are all Gabes," have galvanized support from across Tunisia.
Despite the government’s efforts to project a balanced approach—promoting economic growth while pledging environmental reform—residents remain deeply skeptical. The history of unfulfilled promises, coupled with the recent spike in health emergencies and the visible degradation of the city’s ecosystem, has left many feeling abandoned. As one protester’s sign declared, "We have the right to live in a clean city!"
For now, the future of Gabes hangs in the balance. The urgent commission ordered by President Saied has yet to deliver concrete results, and the GCT plant continues to operate. As the people of Gabes press for their right to a safe and healthy environment, their struggle underscores a broader dilemma faced by many communities worldwide: how to balance economic necessity with the fundamental right to clean air, water, and a livable environment. The world is watching to see whether Tunisia will finally heed the calls of its southern city—or whether Gabes will remain a symbol of sacrifice in the name of progress.
