2021 Tunisian protests

The 2021 Tunisian protests were a series of protests that started on 15 January 2021. Thousand of people rioted in cities and towns across Tunisia, which saw looting and arson as well as mass deployment of police and army in several cities and the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators.

2021 Tunisian protests
Part of 2018–2022 Arab protests
Date	15 January 2021 – 25 July 2021 (6 months, 1 week and 3 days)
Location	Several cities in Tunisia, mainly working-class neighborhoods in Tunis, Sousse, Bizerte, Menzel Bourguiba, Nabeul, Kasserine, Siliana and others.[1]
Caused by	Economic crisis, unemployment, corruption, police brutality, government mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic
Methods	Rioting, looting, arson, robbery, assault
Resulted in	Shops, vehicles destroyed, banks looted, 2021 Tunisian self-coup
Reported injuries
Death(s)	1[2]
Arrested	1000+

The protests started in the town of Siliana, northwestern Tunisia, following the municipal police aggression of a shepherd.^[3]

Young people clashed with police for the fifth straight night on 19 January. In response, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi appealed to the protesters on national television, stating “Your voice is heard, and your anger is legitimate, and it is my role and the role of the government to work to realize your demands and to make the dream of Tunisia to become true.”^[4]

On 21 January, Tunisia reported 103 COVID-19–related deaths, the highest figure to date in the country, among the highest rates in Africa. On 23 January, the government extended its health curfew and banned demonstrations. Travel between regions was banned, bars and restaurants were closed except for take-out food, and university classes were transferred online.^[5]

See also

• 2021 in North Africa
• COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
• June 2013 Egyptian protests

References

1. "Tunisie : des émeutes éclatent, dix ans après la chute de Ben Ali". LExpress.fr (in French). January 18, 2021. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
2. "Clashes break out in Tunisia after death of protester". Aljazeera. January 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
3. Min, Alif (January 15, 2021). "Heurts avec la police suite à l'agression d'un berger par un agent à Siliana". Kapitalis (in French). Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
4. "Outreach by Tunisian leaders fails to quell youth unrest". AP NEWS. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
5. "Tunisia extends curfew, ban on protests as virus cases jump". AP NEWS. 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.