Tunisia 

On Dec. 17, 2010, the suicide of Mohamed Bouazizi in the Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid sparked a revolution toppling President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali and leading to pro-democracy protests throughout the Arab world.

Waging Peace

Ben Ali, who took power in 1987, ruled Tunisia through the 1990's into the new millennium, until his ousting in January 2011. Under his rule, Tunisia became one of the most repressive political states in North Africa, despite being one of the strongest states in the region economically. The so-called "Jasmine Revolution" of January 2011 signaled an end to Ben Ali's repression and the beginning of the Arab Spring. Demonstrators emerged from all social classes, and included trade unionists, youth, women's organizations, lawyers, and other professionals. The message of the protests evolved from economic inequality to unite around political demands pushing for Ben Ali's eventual departure on January 14 to Saudi Arabia.

Read full text on the Carter Center's work in Tunisia >