Tunisia: Anti-government protests to resume in Tataouine on November 23 /update 5

Event

Anti-government protests in the city of Tataouine are to resume on Monday, November 23, over the non-payment of salaries for civil servants working in the city's environment and gardening agency. The protesters, led by the Regional Work Union (URT), are to gather in front of the governorate building. It is unclear whether a government announcement made on Sunday, November 22, stating that the salaries would be paid on Monday will affect the protest.

The resumption of protests in the city comes two weeks after an agreement was reached between unions and the government over state investment in the region. Anti-government protests over the perceived lack of government funding in the region had been ongoing since May and had caused production at oil and gas facilities in the city to be halted.

Further protests cannot be ruled out over the near term. A heightened security presence and associated disruptions are likely in the vicinity of the protests.

Context

Demonstrations have been taking place in the region since late May over an unfulfilled government promise to implement the 2017 El Kamour Agreement by creating 1,500 jobs in the energy industry, as well as other promises of investment in the region. Despite agreements to create 500 jobs in June, protest groups demanded that the government fully honor the original quota and allocate 80 million dinars (32 million USD) in development funding for the governorate. Protests escalated in July following the arrest of a protest leader.

Advice

Those in Tataouine governorate are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate travel disruption in the case of future demonstrations, and avoid any associated political gatherings.