Morocco The International Crisis Group has warned that Tunisia’s government has been unable to address the desperate economic situation that helped spark the popular uprising that overthrew its ruler last year, adding there is a risk of new social explosions.
In its report published Wednesday, the Brussels-based organisation said the government needs to do more to deal with the problems of rising unemployment, regional economic discrepancies and corruption.
“It so far has been unable to address them rapidly enough and is failing to quell the impatience of workers and unemployed youth who expect to reap the fruits of their involvement in past struggles,” said the report. “Economic grievances are churning right below the surface. They could once again reach full boil.”
Tunisians overthrew their long-ruling dictator in January 2011, sparking a wave of pro-democracy uprisings across the region. The North African country of 10 million is being closely watched around the region in its transition to democracy after a half century of dictatorship.
Tunisians went to the polls in October and elected a new assembly to run the country and write a new constitution.
A long oppressed moderate Islamist party dominated the elections and allied with two secular parties to form in December the country’s most representative government ever, but it has been unable to offer short term economic solutions.
Buffeted by an economic crisis in Europe, its main trading partner, and tourists spooked by uprisings across the region, the economy shrunk 1.8 per cent in 2011, though initial signs suggest it is now improving.
Jobs still remain scarce and unemployment high. In the impoverished rural regions, the occasional job offers prompt tribal battles that have left dozens dead since the revolution, the report said.
“The state has failed to restore its authority in several regions - indeed, it appears to be limping along ever since the dissolution of the omnipotent former ruling party. Corruption persists and provokes discontent and indignation,” added the report.
Tunisia’s democratic transition has on the whole been more stable and less fraught than those in neighbouring countries, but if new jobs aren’t created quickly, especially in the impoverished regions, that experiment could be threatened, said the report.
