Hundreds of residents and activists in Gabès, southern Tunisia, protested in early October 2025 to demand the removal of a state-run chemical complex [1].
The demonstrations highlight a growing conflict between industrial production and public health in the region. Local residents said the facility is directly responsible for severe environmental degradation and a rise in respiratory illnesses.
Protesters targeted the state-run chemical and phosphate processing facility [2, 3]. They said the complex has caused extensive air and sea contamination, which has led to an increase in choking incidents among the population [2, 4].
The unrest occurred over several days, with significant gatherings on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 12, 2025 [1, 3]. Activists said the industrial site should be completely dismantled to protect the city's remaining natural resources and the health of its citizens [3].
Local police forces responded to the demonstrations by intervening in the crowds. Authorities said dozens of people were arrested during the week of protests [5].
Gabès has long struggled with the balance of maintaining state industry while managing the waste produced by phosphate processing. The current wave of protests reflects a breaking point for residents who said the pollution has become an existential threat to their community [4].
“Hundreds of residents and activists in Gabès, southern Tunisia, protested in early October 2025”
The protests in Gabès underscore the tension between Tunisia's reliance on state-led industrial sectors for economic stability and the urgent need for environmental regulation. As residents link the phosphate complex to specific health crises, the government faces increasing pressure to modernize or relocate aging industrial infrastructure to prevent further public health deterioration.
