Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, has written numerous articles that have appeared on websites, blogs and in other publications from around the world. He has lectured broadly throughout North America. (Photo: Alan Pollock)
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Pro-western North African state has been a model for neo-colonialism in the region
By Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire
A series of demonstrations beginning on December 17 has struck the North African state of Tunisia. A 26-year-old university graduate, Mohamed Bouazizi of Sidi Bouzid in the southern province, who reportedly set himself on fire in order to protest the dire economic circumstances in the country, served as a catalyst for the recent outbreak of protests that have hit the capital and several other cities throughout the country.
Tunisia, a former French colony, has been considered a close ally of western capitalist states. Nonetheless, the developments since mid-December have highlighted the impact of the world economic crisis on the nation of 10.4 million people.
Unemployment has been cited as hovering above 30 percent among the youth in a nation where many people are literate and western-oriented in their values and social outlooks. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who has been in power since 1987, serving his fifth term with the possibility of standing for re-election again, recently terminated several key governmental officials in a cabinet reshuffle emanating from the political fallout after the nationwide demonstrations.
Although investments in the national economy has resulted in a high literacy rate and access to potable water, electricity, transportation infrastructure and an increase in healthcare facilities, the government has not been able to create enough jobs to absorb the burgeoning labor market. Adding to the social problems in the country is the fact that most of the growth has been centered in the north and eastern coastline regions of Tunisia.
On December 18 demonstrations began peacefully but were met with police repression that led to efforts to occupy the governorate headquarters in Sidi Bouzid. Youth responded by throwing stones at the building and police vehicles, resulting the injury of several law-enforcement officers. (Magharebia.com, Dec. 30)
Youth unemployment is a major source of discontent in Tunisia. The Magharebia.com website said that “According to official statistics, the number of jobless people in the country is about 500,000.”
This same source continues by pointing out that “The figures also show that a breakthrough in the situation is not likely to take place soon as the number of university graduates rose from 40,000 to about 80,000 during the last five years. To tackle the problem, the state must create 425,000 jobs in the next five years and reduce the unemployment rate by 1.5 percent to ensure at least one source of income for each household.”
Background to the current crisis
Tunisia is the location of the ancient city-state of Carthage and has played a significant role in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Its location historically placed it near strategic shipping routes and consequently the area was a magnet for foreign control by the Romans, the Arabs, Ottoman Turks and later the French.
The colonial rule of France ended in 1956 and the country was headed by Habib Bourguiba until 1987 when he was retired because of claims of ill-health. President Ben Ali took control and has been the leader for the last 23 years.
Western imperialist states consider Tunisia to be one of the most stable countries in the North African and Middle-Eastern region. The country is a producer and exporter of olive oil and a huge tourist attraction for Europeans.
Protest activity occurred inside the country in 1978 when a general strike took place. Further disturbances took place in 1980 and in 1984, when food rebellions erupted.
During the 1990s the government attempted to establish controls over the working class movement. There is one large federation, the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), which has not engaged in any significant militant activity over the last two decades.
However, in the current period, growing numbers of organizers in the trade union movement have sought to take a more independent stance by initiating demands for wage increases and better working conditions. In 2008 as well as in early 2010, union activists were successful in staging protests against conditions prevailing in the Gafsa mining basin.
The demonstrations in 2008 and earlier in 2010 followed a similar pattern as the protests during December. Education unions, which have been some of the most militant and outspoken within the UGTT, took the lead by organizing students and the unemployed to demand job creation and an end to official corruption. (Mideast.foreignpolicy.com, Jan. 2)
Despite the fact that the U.S. often criticizes governments that it has targeted for regime-change in Africa for their purported lack of democratic institutions, the situation in Tunisia, where authoritarian rule is the order of the day, seems to suit Washington’s foreign policy in the region.
In a recent article by Intissar Khreeji published by Al Jazeera, the author states that “U.S. and European governments have consistently privileged one limb of the ‘stability-democracy’ equation, on the grounds that the repression of entire populations in the Arab world is but a small price to pay for the stable conditions necessary for us to benefit from the vast economic opportunities in the region and the counter-terrorism assistance they can give us.” (Al Jazeera, Jan. 3)
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