Protesters in Gabes, Tunisia, struck and demonstrated demanding closure of the polluting CGT phosphate plant, citing health and environmental crises.

A general strike and mass protests erupted in Gabes, Tunisia, on October 21, 2025, as residents demanded the closure of the state-owned CGT phosphate plant, blaming it for severe pollution, health crises including respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations, and environmental damage. The UGTT labor union called the strike, shutting down businesses and schools, while demonstrators accused the government of failing to act despite a 2017 pledge to phase out the facility. Despite a recent decision to increase production, President Kais Saied acknowledged the environmental crisis, calling it an “environmental assassination,” and pledged to dismantle corruption and address pollution, with plans to build a cancer hospital and partner with Chinese firms to reduce emissions.