Turmoil in Tunisia: 10 Years After the Arab Spring

The Arab Spring is a phrase many have not heard in many years. It began in 2010. Tunisia’s revolution in 2011 is frequently said to be the singular success of the Arab Spring revolutions. However, it has not introduced stability economically or politically. 

A big question to ask is to define what “better” is. The 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring was followed by a national lockdown in January, and then violent confrontations between youth and police. 

Although Covid cases are getting better in many places in the world, this is not the case for every country. The president in Tunisia fired the prime minister and suspended parliament after massive protests. Citizens are angry about how the spike in Covid cases has been handled. 

President Kais Saied, who is an independent, has had a complicated relationship with PM Hichem Mechichi. Mr. Mechichi is backed by the largest party in parliament, Ennahda. The increase in coronavirus cases continues to fuel public frustration, and the health minister was fired after a poorly planned vaccination drive. 

The president and parliament were elected in popular votes; however, these were separate in 2019. This is after yet another short-lived government. There has been an overwhelming number of cases of COVID-19, with thousands dying. 

Sunday’s protests consisted of thousands of people demonstrating against the PM and Ennahda. The party’s headquarters were set on fire, with many seeing this as the greatest moment since the revolution, whilst others see this as a celebration of a new dictator. 

(Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters)

The street they protested on was one of the key sites for the revolution that brought down the dictatorial government, starting the Arab Spring uprisings.

People in Tunisia are hurting socially and financially. Important public services are decreasing, and there is a huge demand for jobs and better salaries. The cycle of struggle, confusion, and hopelessness has made Tunisia stuck in a cycle of turmoil. 

To everyone’s dismay, there has been no deeper development, economically and socially. President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was forced from power, their economy plummeted, and has not been able to recover. 

A corrupt system is responsible for this, and the rivalry between the political parties and government. This in turn sees consequences in essential sectors such as health, transport, and natural resources. 

What is needed for the country is a strong leader who supports freedom. The political parties clashing as they are has led to a paralyzed country and people. The whole system needs to be changed. Currently, it can only be described as a “political crisis.”  

Despite all this, freedom is important. People have faith in freedom, as it means there is a possibility for change. Someone who can offer leadership, good leadership, and who listens to the people is what the country needs to thrive.