KASSERINE GOVERNORATE, TUNISIA – A half decade after the birth of the Arab Spring in Tunisia the wheels were already coming off the reform bus.
Seldom have single events led to such monumental change in human history. Wait, let me rephrase that: seldom have single events led to such hope for monumental change in human history. For the distance between hope and reality is often far too wide.
In December 2010 a Tunisian fruit vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after having his wares confiscated by a police officer, thus taking away his livelihood. His death shortly thereafter spawned the so-called Arab Spring across North Africa and the Middle East as millions demonstrated and overthrew despots in the hopes for a better life.
And while the world’s imagination was captured for a while, the translation from street revolts to real, lasting change was marginal at best (civil wars in Libya and Syria, a military dictatorship in Egypt, Saudi staying, well, Saudi…). Even Tunisia, where it all began, saw quick gains melt away.
In truth, Tunisia has not gotten that much better since, and that also goes for the security front.
On this day in 2016
A terrorist group linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) ambushed a Tunisian Army convoy, killing 4 soldiers inside the town of Boushabkah in the Kasserine Governorate.
Terrorists affiliated with ISIS in Tunisia have been active ever since. What began as a beacon of of light in North Africa has returned, alas!, to its former violent nature. Here’s hoping for not a rekindling of the Arab Spring optimism but rather a significant difference in Tunisia and across the Muslim/Middle East-North African world.
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