Rallies turned into clashes on Saturday night between law enforcement and protesters in Tunis and several cities across the country. As Tunisia commemorates ten years of the “Jasmine Revolution”, anger is roaring among the population against the economic difficulties.
Ten years after the Tunisian revolution, demonstrations were punctuated with violence Saturday, January 16 in several cities of the country, in particular in the capital and in Sousse, report witnesses and the local media, while anger rumbles against the economic difficulties.
Calls for demonstrations were launched as Tunisia commemorates the tenth anniversary of the “Jasmine revolution” which drove the autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from power and marked the start of the “Arab Spring” in 2011.
FLASH 🇹🇳
Des troubles sont signalés dans plusieurs villes en #Tunisie ce soir entre des émeutiers et les forces de police sur fond de crise économique en plein confinement lié au #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/EegNflmJLJ
— Kassaman Times (@KassamanTimes) January 17, 2021
Popular discontent is increasing pressure on Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi, who on Saturday announced a government reshuffle that included new ministers of the interior, justice and energy.
The most serious clashes occurred on the outskirts of Sousse, where police fired tear gas canisters in an attempt to disperse hundreds of young protesters who were blocking roads by burning tires and looting shops, witnesses and sources said. close to the security services.
Incidents were also reported in several districts of Tunis, as well as in Bizerte.
With AFP