On December 17, 2010, in Tunisia, a street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself ablaze to protest harassment, humiliation, and the confiscation of his produce and equipment by local police officials, sparking protests that later led to the Arab Spring.
It is alleged that one of the police officials slapped him, spat at him, and confiscated his electronic weighing scales and produce cart after he failed to pay a bribe or provide a permit, which local officials later claimed was not required.
At the time, Tunisia was grappling with rampant corruption, police harassment, and widespread unemployment, especially among youth under then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s regime.
Bouazizi, who was the sole breadwinner for his family of eight, was a victim of the economic hardship, high unemployment, and petty corruption, which left him and many others unable to earn a living.
Tunisia Protests lead to Arab Spring Revolution
After feeling humiliated by the officials, the Tunisian Vendor went to the governor’s office in Sidi Bouzid to seek help after police confiscated his produce and equipment.
Having felt that his complaints were ignored, Bouazizi set himself on fire outside the governor’s office. This act ignited a series of protests in Tunisia calling for the dictator President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down.
The Tunisian government tried to stop the unrest by using violence against street protests and by offering political and economic deals.
However, after about 28 days of protests, the Tunisian President, who had ruled for around 23 years, faced pressure and stepped down, fleeing the country on January 14, 2011.
Also Read: Today in History: Govt Security Operation in Wajir Leads to Wagalla Massacre
In October 2011, Tunisians participated in a free election to choose members of a council responsible for drafting a new constitution. By December 2011, a democratically elected president and prime minister took office.
After protests in Tunisia which began after Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire, Egypt also experienced major protests as well.
On January 25, 2011, Egyptians took to the streets to demand an end to President Hosni Mubarak’s nearly 30-year rule. This movement was part of a larger wave of protests in the region called the Arab Spring.
The protests lasted for 18 days until President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on February 11, 2011.
After Mubarak’s reign came to an end, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), led by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, assumed power and suspended the constitution.
Other Countries That Witnessed Uprisings Apart from Tunisia and Egypt
The Council promised democratic reforms and elections, and later in 2012, Egypt held its first democratic presidential election, resulting in the victory of Mohamed Morsi, a candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Morsi was later ousted in a coup on July 3, 2013, by the Army led by General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi after citizens protested his leadership.
Also Read: Today in History: ‘Miracle Baby’ Preacher Gilbert Deya Deported to Kenya from UK
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, after resigning from the military, ran for president in 2014 and won with overwhelming support.
Besides Egypt and Tunisia, several other countries witnessed significant uprisings during the Arab Spring. These include:
- Libya: Protests against Muammar Gaddafi’s government began in February 2011. This led to a civil war, with NATO helping the rebels. Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in October 2011, but the country then faced continued conflict and instability.
- Yemen: People started protesting against President Ali Abdullah Saleh in January 2011, calling for him to resign after being in power for decades. Saleh stepped down in February 2012 as part of a deal brokered by Gulf countries, handing over power to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.
- Syria: Protests against Bashar al-Assad’s government began in March 2011, initially asking for reforms. The government’s violent response led to a brutal civil war, involving many groups, foreign countries, and terrorist organizations like ISIS.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
