Tunisia's STEG announces nationwide power cuts amid heatwave and sabotage claims
Tunisia's state-owned electricity and gas company, STEG, announced another day of rolling power cuts across much of the country for Friday, August 28, 2026. These intermittent outages, which could occur between 9 AM and 6 PM, are implemented to maintain the stability of the electrical system by balancing production and consumption. The affected areas include dozens of localities in nearly all regions, such as Greater Tunis, Cap Bon, Zaghouan, Bizerte, Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia, Kairouan, Sfax, Gabès, Djerba, Kebili, Tataouine, Zarzis, Ben Guerdane, Medenine, Gafsa, Tozeur, and Kasserine. This announcement follows statements by the President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed, who claimed that recent electricity and water disruptions were not ordinary failures but "deliberately planned acts of sabotage" by "enemies of the homeland." STEG, however, attributes the cuts to network conditions and the need to prevent a widespread system collapse, especially during periods of high demand and structural fragility. The company advises consumers to take necessary precautions and apologizes for these "exceptional" measures, which have become a recurring issue for Tunisians facing prolonged heat and uncertainty about power availability.