Summary
Tunisian citizen Chokri Biyahi, aged 62, died on the evening of Thursday, 23 July 2026, in Hay El Fehri, Manouba Governorate, in circumstances which, according to his family, were linked to prolonged power outages. Due to his health condition, Biyahi relied on an electrically powered oxygen machine. His family subsequently filed a complaint against the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG), requesting an investigation into the repeated power outages and the circumstances surrounding his death.
Personal Information
Name: Chokri Biyahi
Age: 62
Nationality: Tunisian
Governorate: Manouba
Status: Citizen
Details of the Incident
During July 2026, several regions across Tunisia experienced repeated power outages, causing widespread concern among residents, particularly because of their impact on daily life and on people who rely on medical equipment requiring electricity.
In this context, Chokri Biyahi died in Hay El Fehri, Manouba Governorate, reportedly following repeated power outages, according to his family.
According to Biyahi’s son, the area experienced a power outage on Thursday, 23 July 2026, beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. and lasting around two hours. At the time, his father was in a critical state of health, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and relied on an electrically powered oxygen machine.
Available information indicates that electricity was restored for brief periods before being cut again several times that day. According to his son, these interruptions affected Biyahi’s health. He became increasingly fatigued and later suffered a fall, after which a doctor was called to examine him and confirmed that his condition had deteriorated.
As his father’s condition worsened, Biyahi’s son returned to Tunis. On 23 July 2026, he posted a Facebook video documenting the outages and their impact on his father, who relied on an oxygen machine. Civil society representatives and local MPs from Manouba then contacted him and said they would ask STEG to intervene and restore power.
According to his account, power was restored following these interventions but was cut again shortly afterwards. The repeated outages were particularly concerning because Biyahi relied on an oxygen machine that required a continuous power supply.
At approximately 11:55 p.m. on 23 July 2026, following the repeated power outages, Chokri Biyahi died. His son reported that a doctor subsequently attended to examine the body. The family considers that the repeated power outages, given Biyahi’s reliance on an electrically powered oxygen machine, raise questions about their possible impact on his health and warrant an investigation into any potential link between the outages and the deterioration in his condition preceding his death.
The family subsequently appointed a lawyer to pursue the case and take the necessary legal steps. A complaint was filed against STEG seeking an investigation into the repeated outages and the circumstances surrounding Biyahi’s death, and the determination of any responsibility, where applicable.
Human Rights Concerns
The documented facts, if established, raise potential concerns regarding several fundamental rights protected under the 2022 Tunisian Constitution and international human rights treaties binding on Tunisia, particularly the rights to life and health and the right to living conditions consistent with human dignity.
Biyahi’s death in the context of repeated power outages, while he relied on an electrically powered oxygen machine, raises serious questions concerning the right to life, protected under Article 24 of the 2022 Constitution of the Republic of Tunisia and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These provisions protect the inherent right to life and entail obligations on the State to take appropriate measures to protect life, particularly where individuals may be in situations of heightened vulnerability.
The circumstances also raise concerns regarding the right to health, guaranteed under Article 43 of the Constitution and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This includes ensuring that people who rely on essential medical equipment can use it without interruptions that may endanger their health or safety.
The case further raises questions regarding the continuity of essential services, particularly where interruptions may affect people who depend on life-sustaining medical equipment. The lack of clarity surrounding the causes of the repeated outages and the preventive measures, if any, available to protect people whose lives or safety depend on electrically powered medical equipment warrants examination of whether the relevant authorities and service providers fulfilled their applicable duties of protection and prevention.
Overall, if a link is established between Biyahi’s death, the repeated power outages, and any failure to take appropriate measures to protect a person dependent on essential medical equipment, the case would raise serious human rights concerns regarding the duty to protect life, guarantee the right to health, and ensure access to essential services for persons in situations of vulnerability, in accordance with Tunisia’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.