Tunisia: Protesters forcibly dispersed in Mdhilla March 18 /update 1

Event

Dozens of protesters rallied in Mdhilla (Gafsa province) on Sunday, March 18, demanding jobs and economic development. Clashes reportedly broke out between demonstrators and police, with some throwing rocks at police before being dispersed by tear gas. Additional protests demanding economic development, and consequent heightened security measures and localized transportation disruptions, are possible in Mdhilla and other areas of Gafsa province in the coming days and weeks amid continued frustration over widespread unemployment and recently enacted austerity measures. Protesters may also continue to block phosphate shipping routes.

Context

Sunday's protest comes after a ministerial meeting on March 16 focused on addressing economic troubles in Tunisia's mining areas; demonstrators ultimately perceived the resulting government development guarantees (including building a power station) as inadequate, and erected roadblocks on the evening of March 16, and attempted to block trains transporting phosphate on the evening of March 17 in protest. Protesters have demanded that revenue from regional phosphate mining be invested into the region and its development.

Since late January, protesters have blocked roads and organized sit-ins in protest of the results of a Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa (CPG) recruitment competition. The Tunisian government has announced it will prosecute the protesters responsible for blocking phosphate transportation routes and production and has threatened other government intervention to resolve the crisis. Repeated negotiation attempts have failed. CPG is the main employer in central Tunisia, which relies heavily on the phosphate sector and is one of the poorest areas of the country.

The 2018 budget, which includes austerity measures as well as an increase of the value-added tax (VAT), has generated a general rise in consumer prices since its implementation on January 1.

Advice

Individuals in Gafsa province are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests due to the risk of potential violence, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.