Tunis

The tragic circumstances surrounding Bouazizi’s self-immolation sparked protests in his rural hometown. The protests, which sometimes turned into violent riots, quickly spread to other areas and the capital, Tunis. The Tunisian government responded first with repression, unleashing state security forces on the demonstrators, killing, torturing, arresting activists, and shutting down the internet. Eventually, Ben Ali shuffled his cabinet and offered to create 300,000 jobs, but it was too little too late. Trade union activists, were focused on unemployment and the high costs of living. Others led to the looting of lavish property belonging to Ben Ali’s relatives. Protestors came from various provinces to La Kasba, a place in Tunis, which contained the Office of the Prime Minister (PM) and the country’s finance ministry. They slept in the open for days – Some established makeshift tent – in the midst of extreme cold temperatures. The protests and violence continued, and by January 14, the president and his family were on an airplane to Saudi Arabia.