March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29
30
31
News Every Day |

Tunisian Revolution 11 years on: What happened in uprising – and what’s happening now?

A lookback at the Tunisian Revolution, which sparked the Arab Spring, its effect on democracy and where Tunisian democracy is now.
The pro-democracy protests in 2011 sparked several others like in the North Africa and the Middle Eeast (PIctures: AP/AFP/Getty/Reuters)

Tunisia’s 23-year dictatorship was finally overthrown 11 years ago after the country’s people rose up in protest.

The historic event ignited pro-democracy movements all over Northern Africa and the Middle East in what came to be known as the 2011 Arab Spring.

Today Tunisia is the only country – out of five – to enjoy a successful transition to democracy.

This has been the international narrative for more than 10 years, albeit with serious worries over corruption and a constant government turnover.

But Tunisia’s democratic legacy has never been doubted more than when its current president, Kais Saied, suspended parliament and dismissed government on July 25 last year.

Although the former law professor has promised his actions are in the interest of preserving Tunisia’s democracy, the leader has faced substantial backlash from the local and the international community.

Here is a breakdown of what happened in Tunisia all those years ago and a look back on where the country is now.

Tunisian demonstrators shout slogans against president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in front the Interior ministry on the in Habib Bourguiba avenue of Tunis on January 14, 2011.
Mass protests forced dictator Ben Ali to step down and leave the country (Picture: Getty Images)
A man holds an Egyptian flag during a rally at Tahrir Square, in Cairo February 25, 2011.
Pro-democracy protests broke out in Egypt too, prompting the removal of the president but then military rule took over (Picture: Reuters)

The Tunisian Revolution

By the time the government was overthrown in 2011, Tunisia had only had two leaders since it won its independence from France in 1956.

Military man Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was the country’s second ruler who made a name for himself for taking a hard line on protesters and religion – in the name of being anti-terrorist.

His party, the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD), banned its opposition in 1991, the Muslim party Ennahda, and won election after election by an overwhelming margin.

People became more and more unhappy with the political repression which had become commonplace, and the high levels of poverty and unemployment did not help.

Everything came to a head at the end of 2010 when street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in the central town of Sidi Bouzid.

The man lived in poverty and worked every day to support his mum and six siblings. So when police confiscated his scales for selling fruit without a permit he was desperate and fed up, and killed himself in front of everyone.

This sparked the protests – later dubbed the Jasmine Revolution – which forced Ben Ali to step down less than a month later.

Demonstrators throws stones at police during clashes in Tunis, Friday, Jan. 14, 2011.
Throughout the movement, dozens of protesters were killed in clashes with the police (Picture: AP)
Tunisians clash with riot police during a demonstration in Tunis on January 18, 2011.
The international community condemned Ben Ali for his government’s brutal response to demonstrators (Picture: Getty)

Ben Ali’s government was met with international criticism for its brutal response to protests – where dozens of demonstrators were killed in clashes with the police.

On January 13, Ben Ali tried a different approach. He went onto national TV and promised he would not run for another term in power after the term he was serving at the time ended in 2014.

He also said he would reduce food prices and start reducing restricting access to the internet. But these concessions did not satisfy protesters.

Former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. A lookback at the Tunisian Revolution, which sparked the Arab Spring, its effect on democracy and where Tunisian democracy is now.
Ben Ali and his party Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) ruled Tunisia for 23 years (Picture: Getty Images)

Seeing the serious situation he was in, Ben Ali declared a state of emergency the next day, dissolved his government and promised to hold elections in six months.

But this was still not enough for the movement and Ben Ali eventually stepped down and fleed the country. By February, all RCD ministers had withdrawn from the government.

Tunisia had an internationally recognised constitution by the start of 2014, and between October and November 2019 the country saw its first peaceful transition of power.

Where is the country now?

Tunisia’s reputation as a democratic success has fluctuated as it struggles with constantly-changing governments, ever-present corruption, terrorism and poverty.

Things have also been tense between secularists and Islamists who disagree on how the government should be run and regulated.

In September 2020, 87% of 1,200 Tunisians interviewed for an International Republican Institute survey said they believed their country was headed in the wrong direction.

This is compared with 67% who said the same thing during a similar survey in 2019.

Researchers concluded people were most unhappy with corruption in the government and ongoing economic hardship – with the potential to breed nostalgia for the Ben Ali era.

Nevertheless, Tunisia has maintained its title as the only Arab Spring success for, in large part, the freedom Tunisians and opposition politicians have to speak up about their grievances.

But this is said to have changed, according to journalists and human rights groups, now that Kais Saied has taken over.

The former academic suspended parliament, dismissed the government and detained several prominent law-makers last July.

At the time, he said he had to take this radical action to prevent the state from collapsing.

Saied has begun drawing up an entirely new constitution and plans to put to a referendum this upcoming June. He has promised not to become a dictator.

Tunisia’s journalists’ union has claimed Saied has banned government ministers from appearing on state television – making it impossible to question or hold them accountable.

The union’s head, Mehdi Jlassi, said this is the first time he has seen restrictions such as this since before the 2011 revolution.

He said: ‘Since July 25, there has been a political decision to prevent all parties from entering television… which is a very dangerous and unprecedented matter that seriously threatens freedom of the press and perpetuates individual power.’

The state television channel, Al-Wataniya, has denied this is the case, insisting it ‘covers all parties’ activities with no exceptions’.

Although the channel has featured programmes about protests against Saied, it has not had any political guests since July, according to Reuters.

Protesters holding up a sign which reads: 'Save our democracy'.
Many view the July takeover as a coup and a threat to Tunisian democracy (Picture: Reuters)

Saied said on Monday that his country’s local media ‘lie, lie like news bulletins’.

Coronavirus restrictions have also given Saied more power over Tunisia, with a new night-time curfew imposed from last Thursday – meaning people should stay in their houses from 10pm to 5am.

Saied also ordered ‘the postponement or cancellation of all public gatherings or demonstrations, in closed or open spaces’.

These rules, whether designed to or not, will effectively crush any legal protests against Saied or commemorations of the Jasmine Revolution’s 11th anniversary.

The Arab Spring

After the pro-democracy protests started to make some impact in Tunisia, activists in Syria, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and Bahrain followed suit.

All but Tunisia’s movement was quashed with brutal violence from regimes and inter-group conflicts.

Indeed, the unrest in Syria culminated in the devastating civil war which has killed around 500,000 people and a refugee crisis affecting millions.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Москва

Выпуск ЦФА на платформе «Атомайз» поможет снизить нагрузку на экологию

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

Ria.city






Read also

UFC announces multiyear deal for twice-annual events in Perth starting with UFC 305

New AI test measures how fast robots can respond to user commands

Force 'heart and soul' Pomare set to reach rare Super W milestone

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

В хоккейном ЦСКА сменился главный тренер



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Трехкратный обладатель Кубка Гагарина уволил тренера и назначил нового


Новости России

Game News

Пробный запуск God Wars: Cross Worlds — idle-RPG с богами и путешествиями во времени


Russian.city


ATP

Хачанов победил Черундоло и пробился в 1/8 финала турнира ATP в Майами


Губернаторы России
Владимир Путин

Умер пермский художник, нарисовавший президента Путина с мячом


Откуда взялись «шутники» и «оправдатели» трагедии в «Крокусе»?

Metaratings: "Спартак" может уволить Абаскаля по ходу сезона, клуб ищет тренера

Роковая судьба: Две сестры выжили при теракте в Волгодонске, но погибли в "Крокусе"

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)


В Москве суд отклонил требование общественника Морозова закрыть YouTube-канал Егора Крида

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)

Дима Билан стал «Мистером Х» в проекте “Новая битва экстрасенсов” на ТНТ

Торжественная месса Бетховена прозвучит в Мариинском в день 200-летия со дня первого исполнения


«Бомж» Дарья передает всем привет»: Касаткина ответила на слова Винер

Битые корты: Медведев и Александрова вышли в четвертьфинал Miami Open

WTA отреагировала на битву Елены Рыбакиной с топовой теннисисткой за полуфинал турнира в Майами

Россиянка Александрова обыграла первую ракетку мира Свентек



В России назвали топ самых благополучных регионов по итогам 2023 года

Рынок вторичной недвижимости Крыма: цены растут, а спрос?

Заказать недорогой ремонт кухонной мебели в районе в Москве и Московской области

Выпуск ЦФА на платформе «Атомайз» поможет снизить нагрузку на экологию


Чемпионат по зимнему плаванию пройдет в Пскове

Удалось спасти: Москва не потеряла в больницах ни одного человека после теракта, сообщил Собянин

Сергей Собянин: Улучшаем связи между районами

Актера Свиридова госпитализировали из-за инфицирования после операции в Москве


КОМПАНИЯ LG НАЗВАНА ПАРТНЕРОМ ГОДА ENERGY STAR 2024

В Кирове к юбилею города появится архитектурная подсветка на нескольких улицах

«Швабе» показывает прорывные технологии на выставке «Фотоника. Мир лазеров и оптики»

Автоэксперт: компаниям нужно проводить инструктаж по соблюдению ПДД для курьеров



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Джиган

Джиган раскрыл свой вес и описал причину похудения словами «надоело быть жирным»



News Every Day

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости