During the night of Wednesday, July 9 to Thursday, July 10, 2025, the President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed, made an unexpected visit to several areas of the Tunisian coast facing an alarming marine pollution. From Monastir to Kélibia and Menzel Temime, the head of state has moved to see the extent of the damage and promise prosecution against those responsible.
Between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., Kaïs Saïed went to several sites affected by this pollution, starting with the beach of Ksibet El Mediouniwhere waters are invaded by organic and industrial waste. On the spot, the president exchanged with citizens who came to inform him of their exasperation, denouncing the continuous degradation of their environment, the inaction of the local authorities and the health threats weighing on the inhabitants.
“All those who have contributed to this situation, directly or indirectly, will have to respond to it before the courts. There will be no immunity or impunity ”, said the president in a video published by Radio Monastir.
Inspection of the Sayada-Lamta-Bouhjar treatment plant
Continuing his tour, Kaïs Saïed visited the treatment plant for SAYADA-LAMTA-BOUHJARlocated at Lamtawhose role is central in the treatment of wastewater in the region. The station has been the subject of many criticisms from civil society, which accuses it of dumping water insufficiently treated in the sea.
According to National radio,, Mounir Husseinactive activist in the region, described what happened to the Gulf of Monastir as“Wild attack committed by treatment plants and industrialists”. He has called to a radical solutionespecially by thestrict prohibition of the spill of wastewater in the Gulfin order to save what can still be.
A sacrificed coast, a local economy threatened
The pollution that affects the Gulf of Monastir directly affects local economic activities, including fishing and tourism. HAS Sayadaanother locality visited by the president, the beaches are deserted and the fishermen sounded the alarm for a long time, alerting to the drop in taking and the contamination of their work tools.
Kélibia and Menzel TEMIME, sensitive points of pollution
At dawn, the presidential tour continued in the coastal localities of Kélibia And MENZEL TEMIME. The president inspected several beaches as well as areas strongly impacted by wastewater releases, in particular Oued Lahjar And Aïn Grenz. These areas are particularly affected by marine pollution and represent major issues for the protection of the coast and local economic activities.
A promise of action, under citizen surveillance
President Kaïs Saïed has multiplied firm messages on the application of the law and the need to end environmental impunity. But in the field, many are waiting for concrete measures: technical audits, effective sanctions, investments in sanitation and transparency of environmental data.
