Tunisian Protesting Unemployment Dies After Self-Immolation

A year after that the young street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi has set himself to fire in Tunisia , which insufflated a wave of pro-democracy revolts all over the Middle East, a Tunisian man, Ammar Gharsalla, died after his self-immolation. Ammar Gharsalla was part of a sit-in in front of a Gafsa government building, highlighting the high unemployment in the country. Gafsa region had a history of popular revolts under President Ben Ali regime but also since the revolution as the main economic activity, phosphate extraction, is paralyzed. Ammar Gharsalla’s suicide happened after that three Ministers from the government, elected in October 2011, refused to meet the group.

Additionally, Tunisian economist Moncef Cheikh Rouhou declared that unemployment remains a key issue. Unemployment rates have reached between 14% and 18% depending on the regions, but Rouhou remains optimistic about Tunisia’s economic future thanks to the recent election of a government. However, Rouhou urged the government to implement a good governance policy, insisting on a fair redistribution of wealth.

Meanwhile, after President Moncef Marzouki called for Tunisian Jews to return to Tunisia, the leader of Ennahda Rached Ghannouchi condemned anti-semtic slogans chanted at Tunis airport by the crowed welcoming Mr. Ismail Haniya.  Mr. Ismail Haniya, Prime Minister of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, was visiting Tunisia at the invitation of the government.