Tunisia: 11th anniversary of the fall of Ben Ali in a tense context

Tunisian demonstrators demand the departure of President Ben Ali eleven years ago, January 14, 2011. REUTERS - ZOHRA BENSEMRA

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

It was eleven years ago to the day, the Tunisians exulted in the streets at the announcement of the departure of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

But in Tunis, it's not really time to celebrate.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Tunis

,

Amira Souilem

It's a bittersweet anniversary.

For the second year in a row, gatherings on January 14 are prohibited.

Officially for health reasons.

Like many other countries, Tunisia fears a resurgence of Covid-19 as the days get colder.

But opponents of President Kaïs Saïed see this measure as a way of muzzling them who had planned to take to the streets to demand what they call the "return of democratic order".

Kaïs Saïed, who granted himself full powers last July, does not recognize this anniversary.

At his request, the Tunisian revolution is now commemorated on December 17, the date of the immolation of the merchant Mohamed Bouazizi, who had triggered the anger of the street, and no longer on January 14, the date of Ben Ali's departure.

The strong man of Carthage believes that the Tunisian revolution has been confiscated by the various parties in power for eleven years and that his mission is to put it back on track.

His opponents - ban or not - meanwhile announced that they would be in the streets this Friday.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali

  • Tunisia

  • Kais Saied