Tunisia’s body politic is in crisis

Tunisia is experiencing simultaneous crises in governance and essential services that threaten the country's stability. Widespread failures in water and electricity supply have created acute hardship for households already struggling with severe economic pressures. In some regions, utility cuts have persisted for up to two weeks during intense summer conditions, generating public anger that has manifested in street mobilization and political protest.

Uncertainty surrounding President Kais Saied's health has compounded the political dimension of the crisis. For the first time since Tunisia's 2011 transition, the country faces a dual climate of national distress and institutional instability. Protesters have begun displaying banners demanding Saied's departure, marking an escalation in public dissatisfaction that echoes historical patterns of political upheaval in the country.

The immediate utility crisis reflects deeper structural failures in Tunisia's energy infrastructure. The state-owned electricity and gas company, STEG, cannot meet demand growth exceeding 4 percent annually or manage peak consumption during hot seasons. Although parliament passed an energy law in 2015 designed to enable private energy producers and renewable energy development, implementation has stalled. Concession and authorization schemes intended to expand opportunities for energy developers remain incomplete, preventing the deployment of medium-scale plants that could alleviate supply constraints.

Planning for renewable energy and green hydrogen production, while necessary for long-term sustainability, offers no immediate relief from the current crisis. The gap between legislative intent and operational capacity continues to widen, leaving households and businesses vulnerable to recurring service disruptions that fuel broader political discontent.