Why is tunisia rioting

Young people, he argues, expected change after the Ben Ali regime fell and now all they see is a black hole. The Muslim Brotherhood's "Al-Nahda Party" he says "is trying to make itself into the main powerbroker in Tunisia and would like to set up an authoritarian regime under the camouflage of a multi-party system.

Abou Diab goes on to argue, however, that Al-Nahda "has lost much of its clout since the fall of the Ben Ali regime, along with many of its members and a good part of its credibility. Tunisian government announced a four-day lockdown last week, which it said was due to a surge in the number of COVID cases.

Some analysts, however, say the lockdown is meant to prevent possible violence on the 10th anniversary of the January 14 departure of former president Ben Ali. Tunisia has been facing serious economic problems in the 10 years since the departure of Ben Ali, and the recent COVID crisis has left the country with a budget shortfall. The first "Arab Spring" revolution broke out in Tunisia in December after a young vegetable seller by the name of Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest economic conditions and alleged police brutality.

Search Search. Home United States U. Africa 54 - November 12, VOA Africa Listen live. VOA Newscasts Latest program. TUNIS Reuters - Violent clashes erupted for a fifth night on Tuesday between police and protesters in several Tunisian cities, including the capital Tunis and Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the Arab Spring uprisings, as anger and frustration mount over economic hardship.

In Sidi Bouzid, where the revolution began, witnesses told Reuters that police fired gas to disperse protesters who were raising slogans against rulers and demanding an end to decades of marginalisation. Clashes also broke out in poor areas of Tunis, including Ettadamen and Sijoumi, as hundreds of angry youths burned tires and blocked roads.

Clashes also took place in several other towns, notably in Nabeul, Sousse, Kairouan, Sfax and Tozeur. Tunisian president sacked PM Hicham Mechichi and suspended parliament after day of anti-government protests. Protesters in Tunis threw stones and demanded Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi quit and parliament be dissolved. Published On 26 Jul Saied said he would assume executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister.