Thousands of Tunisian youths lined the capital city, Tunis, and the cradle of the Arab Spring protests, Sidi Bouzid on Tuesday as they called for an end to the government of the day.
Youths hurled stones and petrol bombs on the streets, as they blocked roads in Tunis to pass a message against the government.
They have complained about lack of jobs, raving unemployment and economic hardship, similar to the complaints of ten years ago.
The government, led by President Kais Saied has called for the cessation of the protests. He has also affirmed the law will take its place should the protests continue as hundreds of youths have been held round the country.
There are ongoing protests in Sfax, one of Tunisia’s biggest cities as youths reincarnate the Arab Spring chants of “the people want the fall of the regime”.
Ten years after the Arab Spring revolution, Tunisians are yet to see the dividends of everything they called for.
Prime Minister, Hisham Mechichi described the protests as “legitimate” but said the youths should go home, in order to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
“Your voice is heard and your anger is legitimate… Do not allow saboteurs among you,” he said while addressing protesters in a televised address.
“The crisis is real and the anger is legitimate and so are the protests, but the violence is unacceptable and we will confront it with the force of law,”
President Saied has issued warnings to the protesting youths as he asked them not to touch public and private properties.
“Do not attack or insult anyone and do not damage private property or state institutions,” he said.
Tunisians have said there’s an underestimation of the reach of the protests with government not reacting as youths would expect.
The Arab Spring of 2011 began in Tunisia in the town of Sidi Bouzid before seeping through the rest of North Africa and the Middle East.
