Tunisian President Demands Sanctions on Polluters, Better Coastal Protection

Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed has called for strict sanctions against polluters and emphasized the need for better protection of the nation's coastline. The president issued these directives during a meeting on environmental issues and heritage preservation held at the Carthage palace on Monday, August 3, 2026.

The meeting was attended by key government officials, including the head of government, Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, and ministers of environment and cultural affairs. The president's call to action was prompted by his visit to Radès the previous day, where he witnessed severe environmental degradation and damage to the coastal areas. This visit highlighted what he described as shortcomings in environmental protection efforts.

President Saïed reaffirmed the "polluter-pays" principle, a concept adopted at the 1992 Rio Summit and enshrined in Article 47 of the Tunisian Constitution, which guarantees the right to a healthy environment. He stressed that any individual or entity responsible for pollution must be held accountable. Furthermore, he urged the Agency for the Protection and Development of the Coastline (APAL) to intensify its field operations, stating that the agency had not fully met its mission in several coastal zones.

The president also addressed the protection of archaeological heritage, citing the discovery of vestiges on the banks of the Oued Miliane, which have been turned into a dumping ground. He condemned the looting of archaeological sites, comparing it to the plundering of national wealth, and stressed the urgency of preserving historical sites.