TURMOIL IN NORTH AFRICA
Part 1
The
Ben Ali Regime: Post Mortem Analysis
Feb. 24, 2011
Tunisia
PM Ghannouchi Quits, Veteran Politician Essebsi is Replacement
By
Arezki Daoud | daoud@north-africa.com
US+508-981-6937 | Skype: arezki.daoud
Mohammed
Ghannouchi, Tunisia’s long time Prime Minister under
the infamous Ben Ali, and then interim Premier in the current
government, announced his resignation today, Sunday February
27, 2011. His assignment as interim PM has been rocked with
controversies, as millions of Tunisians were not comfortable
with a former regime operative leading the transition, despite
his status of a technocrat. His resignation was largely
prompted by the death of three demonstrators yesterday as
clashes with police erupted near the Prime Ministry building.
The demonstrators have been calling for his removal, however,
many Tunisians do not rule out the involvement of and manipulations
from the still active but shadowy supporters of dictator
Ben Ali. Continue
here.
February 5, 2011
To
Stabilize Tunisia, Former Ruling RCD Party Must be Banned
and Sent to the Museum
By
Redouane Benmehdi| journal@north-africa.com
US+508-981-6937 | Skype: arezki.daoud
Flash back to October 5, 1988: Tens of thousands of young
Algerian men took to streets to demand a new political landscape,
reforms and the rule of law. In power since the country’s
independence in 1962, the FLN party ruled without competition,
preventing any opposition to form. As an outcome of the
1988 Algerian youth uprising, the then President Bendjedid
promised political openness and a swift move to a multi-party
system. Fast forward in 2011 and the Algerian political
system is dominated by the iron fist of the FLN, somewhat
competing a tiny bit is a baby-FLN, the RND which was created
by former FLN members essentially to hijack the democratization
process. There are a few opposition parties that are largely
irrelevant, not because their members are not skilled, but
because the FLN-RND duo, essentially the ruling regime of
today, prevents them from operating normally. Continue
here.
Saturday, Feb 5, 2011
With
Egypt in Turmoil, Algeria and Morocco Put Forward Insufficient
Measures to Quell Decent
The Jasmine Revolution of Tunisia and the mayhem that followed
in Egypt are catching Arab governments by surprise and decisions
have to come soon. Yet Algeria and Morocco’s popular
grievances, generally about all aspects of life, from economic
opportunity, to civil liberties and the endemic corruption,
are not new and have been a permanent factor in the domestic
political landscape. Continue
here.
Update: January 27, 2011
A
New Tunisian Cabinet that Promises Smooth Transition
A
consensus has finally emerged that gives the Tunisians a
historical opportunity to manage a smooth transition. After
coming under intense criticism for having selected key ministers
of the defunct regime, Prime Minister Ghannouchi announced
a new cabinet formation that has only two junior ministers
from the previous regime. Continue
here.
Previously:
A
Unity Government not so United, Interim President and PM
Resign from Ruling RCD Party
Jan. 18, 2011: 8:36 PM
GMT : 3:36 PM East USA
The
interim government formed by Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi
did not survive its first few hours. Under intense popular
pressure four appointed Ministers decided to resign as protesters
continue to demand the ousting of RCD cabinet members. Among
the most vocal voices in this protest are the Islamists
and far-left opposition figures who have been sidelined
and essentially banned from participating, and perhaps more
importantly is the UGTT labor union which decided to not
endorse the Ghannouchi government. Continue
here.
Anxiety
Over New Tunisian Cabinet
Jan. 17, 2011: 6:41 PM GMT : 1:41 PM East
USA
In
a controversial and unpopular move, Prime Minister Mohammed
Ghannouchi decided to retain 6 ministers from the RCD party
and outgoing cabinet. He also picked three opposition leaders.
The move is source of anger and frustration and likely to
lead to further tension. The RCD ministers that have retained
are those of key and strategic departments of interior (security
and police), defense, foreign affairs, and finance. Continue
here.
Latest
Developments as of January 16, 2011
As
we release this issue in the late night in Tunis, on Sunday,
January 16, 2011, emotions are running high in Tunisia with
the population feeling optimistic while the security situation
remains tense. Information here in Tunisia seem to indicate
that the abrupt departure of Ben Ali was triggered by the
refusal of the military to intervene. The decision apparently
came from the top military chief General Rachid Ammar, an
indication that even the military hierarchy was fed up with
the irrational Ben Ali regime. Continue
here.
Why
the Tunisians Fired Ben Ali
The
violent demonstrations leading up to the departure of Ben
Ali were not necessirily just about the rise of food prices
or unemployment. Although these factors were no doubt critical
in the Tunisian uprising, the rotten political system built
on cronyism and corruption forced many middle and upper
class Tunisians to endorse the revolt as well and to actively
take part to it. The system was locked by Ben Ali and those
around him, including his wife’s family, according
to most Tunisians. Continue
here.
This
article written by Arezki Daoud was released in May 2009
and published in the Global Journalist magazine. Its re-release
is meant to showcase the working of the Ben Ali regime
in the areas of freedom of speeach and broad civil liberties
| For economic observers, Tunisia has been a model to
follow. Its economic performance generally surpasses its
neighbors and gains constant praise from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), as it is “making impressive
progress in its reform agenda, and its prospects are favorable."
Continue
here.
Tunisian
People Fixated on Sakhr El Materi, Imad Trabelsi and First
Lady Leila Ben Ali
Among
the figures that angry Tunisians are fixated on are Sakhr
El Materi, Imad Trabelsi, and disgraced first lady Leila
Ben Ali. Sakhr Materi's trajectory is becoming shockingly
identical to that of Algeria’s disgrace businessman
Abdelmoumen Khalifa. Both young, both inexperienced and
both deeply corrupt, essentially ending in hiding, in
the UK for Khalifa and probably in Dubai for Al Materi.
Continue
here.
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Part 2: Egypt
Part 3: Libya
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