Hundreds of Tunisians took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding justice and accountability after three students were killed in a tragic school wall collapse in the central town of Mazzouna. The incident, which occurred on Monday, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed criticism of the government’s failure to address deteriorating public infrastructure.
According to Civil Defence officials, the collapse of a crumbling wall at the Mezzouna Secondary School claimed the lives of three teenagers who were preparing for their baccalaureate exams. Two other students sustained serious injuries.
The tragedy has been widely seen as a symbol of the state’s neglect, with protesters blaming officials for allowing such unsafe conditions to persist. Many said the deaths reflected a broader decline in public services amid Tunisia’s deepening economic and social crisis.
Demonstrators in Mazzouna burned tires, blocked roads, and vandalised a government vehicle. Shops and schools in the town remained closed in mourning and protest. Crowds gathered outside the local National Guard headquarters, chanting against social marginalisation and calling for the removal of local officials.
Solidarity protests also erupted in the capital, Tunis, where hundreds of young people voiced their anger, shouting anti-government slogans and demanding the resignation of the administration.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and a judicial spokesperson confirmed that the school principal has been arrested in connection with the collapse.
