Tunisia’s opposition has condemned what it calls blatant Algerian interference after thousands of Algerians converged on Tunis on Wednesday to bolster a rally in support of President Kaïs Saïed, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the Tunisian revolution.
The move has reignited accusations that Tunisia is being “vassalized” by Algiers through its gas wealth and political backing.
The demonstration, staged on Avenue Bourguiba, came as Saïed faces mounting domestic pressure over his increasingly authoritarian rule, marked by mass arrests of political opponents and the concentration of power in his hands.
Videos circulating online showed Algerian participants openly admitting they traveled to Tunisia to support Saïed, some carrying banners denouncing Tunisian opposition figures as “traitors.”
Opposition leaders blasted the rally as a “flagrant act of interference,” accusing Algeria of propping up Saïed to abort any democratic experiment at its borders. Former Tunisian president Moncef Marzouki went further, claiming Saïed is backed by Algeria, which wants to kill democracy at its gates.
Saïed’s reliance on Algerian support underscores Tunisia’s growing dependence on its neighbor, fueled by gas deals and financial lifelines.
Besides authoritarian rule, Saïed has been following Algeria’s economic playbook, a mix of failed policies and populist rhetoric that has deepened poverty and isolation in both countries.
The backlash comes after a weekend of massive anti-Saïed protests across Tunisia, demanding an end to what activists call an “authoritarian escalation.”
The regimes in Tunis and Algiers now show blatant parallels. Both face widespread public discontent, reflected in record-low voter turnouts, just 8% in Tunisia’s last presidential election and 10% in Algeria’s.
Algeria’s involvement in Tunisia’s domestic politics risks further destabilizing a country already grappling with a severe socio-economic crisis.
