Tunis’ governor Kamel El Feki decided to ban all gatherings for two weeks starting for Thursday “to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases,” in a move critics decried as aimed at stopping protests.
The ban on gatherings comes two days before a planned demonstration against President Kais Saied called by major political parties and national figures.
The expected demonstration coincides with the country’s official Revolution Day, Jan. 14.
The authorities also declared a curfew and a travel ban within the country except for emergencies.
Since his sweeping decisions announced on July 25, President Kais Saied has come under fire for pointing his finger at judicial authorities.
Addressing the nation on July 25, Saied announced that he would preside over the office of the public prosecutor.
Since then, cases accusing judges of wrongdoing have emerged, with 45 judges now placed under house arrest.
This came as protest have been sweeping the North African country in rejection of Saied’s 25 July “exceptional measures”, according to which he suspended parliament and dismissed the government, before later appointing a government and announcing a plan for a referendum and elections next year.
