KEY POINTS
  • Thousands of supporters of President Kais Saied poured into streets, cheering the ouster of what they viewed to be corrupt and incompetent politicians.
  • Opponents of the president, particularly members of the Islamist Ennahda party, which make up the majority in parliament, accuse him of orchestrating a coup.
  • The World Health Organization said Tunisia is facing an "extremely concerning" surge in Covid infections, despite keeping the virus relatively under control for the previous year.
Tunisian security officers hold back protesters outside the parliament building in the capital Tunis on July 26, 2021, following a move by the president to suspend the country's parliament and dismiss the Prime Minister. - Tunisia was plunged deeper into crisis as President Kais Saied suspended parliament and dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi late July 25, prompting the country's biggest political party to decry a "coup d'etat". (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

Tunisia is facing the greatest test to its young democracy in a decade, following a dramatic move by President Kais Saied to oust the country's government and suspend parliament.

The decision late Sunday triggered vastly opposing reactions — thousands of supporters of the president poured into the streets of the capital Tunis, cheering the ouster of what they viewed to be corrupt and incompetent politicians.