Tunisian City Battles Pollution Crisis as Chemical Factory Refuses to Shut Down

As of October 16th, 2025, the city of Gabes, Tunisia is in the midst of a pollution crisis, with residents blaming a local chemical factory for causing serious health issues. In the past few weeks, dozens of people, including 12-year-old Ahmed, have been rushed to the hospital for gas poisoning.

Locals have been staging protests, demanding the closure of the phosphate processing plant, which they say has been emitting more toxic gases into the air and discharging radioactive waste into the Mediterranean. However, the Tunisian government has instead announced plans to ramp up the factory's production, much to the outrage of the community.

Authorities have promised to address the issue, but many residents believe little will change, as the decades-old plant continues to operate with outdated and dilapidated equipment. Lawyers are now preparing to file lawsuits against the factory, seeking to suspend its operations and ultimately dismantle the entire facility.

The pollution crisis in Gabes has become a politically sensitive issue, as the phosphate industry is a crucial part of Tunisia's economy. But for the residents, the factory's continued operation is a matter of life and death, with some already suffering from cancer and other illnesses linked to the plant's toxic emissions.