Tunisian City Demands Closure of Toxic Chemical Factory

On November 1, 2025, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Gabes, a city in southern Tunisia, to call for the closure of facilities at an aging chemical factory. The plant, which has been in operation since 1972, is blamed for hundreds of cases of poisoning and the loss of more than 90 percent of marine biodiversity in the nearby Gulf of Gabes.

Anger has been reignited in the city over the pollution from the factory and its toll on residents' health. Doctors and local residents report a higher incidence of respiratory diseases and cancers compared to other parts of Tunisia. Videos of children with apparent breathing issues prompted a massive mobilization of protesters on October 21, 2025.

The Tunisian government is caught between efforts to develop the strategic fertilizer sector and a 2017 promise to gradually close the Gabes plant. While authorities have announced "urgent measures" to address the gas emissions, experts say the rehabilitation of the polluting units, planned more than 15 years ago, remains a costly challenge in a country with a debt level of around 80 percent of GDP.

Protesters are demanding a "total dismantling" of the site, rather than just repairs or renovations. They chanted slogans like "The people demand the dismantling of polluting units" and carried placards reading "Deserve to Breathe." The Tunisian president has acknowledged the people's "pain and aspirations," promising solutions and clean air for all Tunisians.