Protests against a set of austerity measures including price and tax hikes swept across Tunisia leaving one person dead. Clashes between Police and hundreds of protesters took place in Tebourba, some 40 km (25 miles) from Tunis leaving one killed and Five people wounded, the Tunisian news agency said. The protest had turned violent when security forces tried stopping some youths from burning down a government building, witnesses told the media. Tunisia, widely seen in the West as the only democratic success among nations where “Arab Spring” revolts took place in 2011, is suffering increasing economic hardship. The 2018 budget also raises customs taxes on some products imported from abroad, such as cosmetics, and some agricultural products.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 09, 2018 11:26 UTC