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During a field visit to areas affected by flooding, Tunisian President Kais Saied commented on the presence of the “cochineal insect” and the “silkworm” side by side, describing the situation as “unnatural.”
Saied's comment prompted questions about how his remarks relate to events on the ground.
A video posted on the Tunisian presidency’s Facebook accounts showed Saied pointing to environmental phenomena at affected sites during his tour of the “Blue Sea” area in the Marsa delegation and the suburb of Sidi Bou Said.
The cochineal insect is typically associated with cactus plants, particularly prickly pear, while the silkworm is linked to mulberry leaves and is usually found in controlled breeding environments.
Experts note that the two insects are not commonly found together in natural settings, as each depends on different host plants and ecological conditions.
Saied’s remarks drew reactions among Tunisians on social media, with many focusing on his linking of insects to the floods. Some described the comments as unusual in the context of climate-related crises.
The comments came as North Africa experienced unstable weather, with Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Algeria raising alert levels and suspending classes in some areas.
On Saturday evening, Tunisia’s National Institute of Meteorology issued its highest warning level for 20 governorates, declaring a broad state of alert due to dangerous weather fluctuations expected on Sunday, including strong winds and heavy thunderstorms in several areas.
In an official bulletin, the institute said weather conditions will be marked by strong to very strong winds, with gusts that may temporarily reach 110 kilometers per hour, stirring sand and dust in the south.
It also forecast temporary thunderstorms, locally heavy in the north, with significant rainfall amounts, especially in the far northwest.
The institute assigned the orange level, a high alert requiring full vigilance, to 20 governorates, including Greater Tunis (Tunis, Manouba, Ariana and Ben Arous), Nabeul in the east, Bizerte and Zaghouan in the north, and Beja, Jendouba, Kef and Siliana in the northwest.
It also covered Kasserine, Kairouan and Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia, as well as Gafsa, Tozeur, Kebili, Gabes, Medenine and Tataouine in the south.
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