Tunisian security forces today broke out a sit-in by a number of youth in the southern governorate of Tataouine, preventing the passage of cars and trucks equipped with tanks to transport oil.
The protesters are demanding the implementation of the "camore" agreement (the name of a region in the governorate) that includes promises of employment and development projects, and they have accused successive governments of withdrawing from implementing a previous agreement with the protesters in 2017.
Eye witnesses reported that Tunisian security used tear gas to disperse the protesters on Saturday night and this morning.
The congestion continues in the governorate, as a number of youth blocked the road by burning rubber wheels.
According to eyewitnesses, repeated operations are taking place in the city of Tataouine, and the Tunisian security forces have fled.
"The security forces broke up a sit-in at the bridge leading to the exit of the city leading to the desert, late on Saturday night, using tear gas," said the coordinator of the sit-in in the Al-Kamour area, Tataouine Daw al-Ghoul.
He added, "There are a large number of wounded, after the raid on the sit-in, and the security forces arrested a number of youth sit-in, including the spokesperson for the coordination of the sit-in."
It is noteworthy that in June 2017, the Tunisian government and representatives of protesters in the "El Kamour" area in Tataouine concluded an agreement to break a sit-in that lasted for more than two months, in exchange for responding to the demands of the protests related to providing job opportunities and developing the province.
The protesters are demanding the completion of the assignment of 1500 people to the oil companies, the employment of 500 others in the Environmental and Horticultural Company (specialized in landscaping the entrances to cities) and allocating about $ 32 million annually to the governorate's development fund.
Tataouine Governorate abounds with a large stock of oil and gas, and national and foreign energy companies are spread in the nearby desert, and its fields contribute - according to official figures - to 40% of Tunisia's oil production, and 20% of its gas production.