Tunisia commemorates one-year anniversary of Arab Spring
Tunisian women wrapped in Tunisian flags pose during a demonstration to demand jobs and dignity as the north African country marks a year to the day since its despot Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled into exile on January 14, 2012 on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis. Some demonstrators, wearing the red and white of the national flag, called for recognition of the ‘martyrs’ killed during the weeks of unrest before Ben Ali was toppled.
Thousands of Tunisians celebrated the one-year anniversary of their uprising that ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in peaceful demonstrations.
In the Tunis capital, Tunisia’s leaders and Arab dignitaries joined its people to commemorate the month-long uprising that killed more than 200 people, the Associated Press reported.
The Tunisian revolution that started last December was caused by discontent over high unemployment, corruption and lack of political freedoms that led to the most historic wave of social and political unrest in Tunisia in 30 years.
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Tunisia’s uprising also sparked the Arab Spring – the wave of political unrest that have gripped much of the Middle East.
The newly formed government made up of a human rights activist Moncef Marzouki as president and moderate Islamist Hamadi Jebali as prime minister is now faced with the task of strengthening a shaken economy and addressing the country’s 20 percent unemployment rate.
A government might have been toppled, but many Tunisians are still concerned over the future of their nation. Four people set themselves on fire last week mostly protesting continued joblessness, GlobalPost reported.
More from GlobalPost: More self-immolations as anniversary of Tunisian dictator's overthrow nears
Although Ben Ali no longer is in power, remnants of his cash, equities and property amounting to to billions of dollars remain elusive, the Washington Post reported.
The Ministry of State Property and the Finance Ministry in Tunisia have held his assets that are in the country but portions remain abroad in as much as 12 countries, including the US,, Britain and France, according to the Post.
The government have yet to announce a formal plan to handle with the former dictator’s last remnants.