Five years since Ben Ali fled: Tunisians react

As Tunisia celebrates the fifth anniversary of the removal of Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, many are remembering the critical moment of the revolution that began the Arab Spring.
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3 min read
The New Arab Staff

Patrick Atack

14 Jan, 2016
Tunisian people gather on the 5th anniversary of Tunisian revolution December 17, 2015. [Getty]
Five years after Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution in 2011, Tunisians are still cautious about the outcome.

On Thursday, the country marked the fifth anniversary and many took to social media to give their views.

Rym Baouendi said, "Five years later: Lots of nonsense and many challenges still persist (economic, political, terrorism). I feel grateful for belonging to this great country, for the ‪#‎TunisianRevolution‬, and for the courage and sacrifice of my countrymen/women #‎14Janvier‬".

Many Twitter users shared images of the Tunisian flag, and offered messages of support and thanks for the revolt that began in the provincial town of Sidi Bouzid.
 
 
"Five years ago today, Ben Ali took to his heels under the pressure of the #tunisarevolution which marked the beginning of the Arab Spring"
However the mood has not been entirely celebratory, as Tunisians have also taken the opportunity to remember those who were lost to the uprising.

Whilst others still wished to keep their feet on the ground, and point out that there is still work to be done:

Since December celebrations of the removal of Ben Ali, and commemorations of Mohammed Bouazizi have united many Tunisians.

Bouazizi, a fruit seller in the town of Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia, set himself on fire in protest of corruption and police brutality. From this act of self-immolation, protests spread to Tunis and other major cities calling for the overthrow of Zine El Abedine Ben Ali.

Despite Ben Ali's overthrow and the success of Tunisia's forray into the democratic process, many are saying that the corruption and brutality of the Ben Ali era are still rampant.
 
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