Tunisian man sets himself alight, in move that mimics start of Arab unrest
People gather on December 17, 2011 in Sidi Bouzid’s Mohamed Bouazizi square, named after the fruit seller whose self-immolation sparked the revolution that ousted a dictator and ignited the Arab Spring.
A Tunisian man set himself on fire in front of a government building to protest unemployment in a rural area, mimicking the Dec. 2010 self-immolation of a fruit vendor that sparked the uprisings across the Middle East.
Tunisia has so far been the success story of the so-called “Arab Spring,” with a largely peaceful transition to free and fair elections in October.
More from GlobalPost: 2011: Year for self-immolations
But poverty and unemployment continue to plague Tunisia’s hinterlands, and the latest incident only highlights Tunisia’s ongoing struggle with an ailing economy.
The man, a 48-year-old father of three, was part of a group of unemployed men staging a sit-in in front of the main government office in the Gafsa province to demand jobs.
More from GlobalPost: Tunisians celebrate one-year anniversary of revolt
Our coverage reaches millions each week, but only a small fraction of listeners contribute to sustain our program. We still need 224 more people to donate $100 or $10/monthly to unlock our $67,000 match. Will you help us get there today?