Tunisian dies after setting himself on fire after losing his job

MADRID, 22 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A Tunisian has died after setting himself on fire after losing his job in an incident reminiscent of another immolation ten years ago and became the trigger for the revolution in the North African country, which soon spread to the rest of the region in what became known as the Arab Spring.

As reported by the Mosaique FM station, citing official sources, the incident took place in front of a Tunisian government building in the city of Nabeul, in the northeast of the country, on Saturday night. After receiving medical attention at the scene, he ended up succumbing to his burns at the hospital.

According to the station's sources, the deceased was a guard at a government delegation and the father of three children who had recently lost his job due to the critical economic moment the country is going through, right now under President Kais Saied, who has practically assumed absolute power in what his critics have denounced as a self-coup.

In 2010, vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia, desperate for his situation. His death sparked massive protests in the country and the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.

The protests spread to other countries in the Arab region and led to the fall of several heads of state and, for a time, Tunisia was considered the only country in the region to have successfully transitioned to democracy.

However, Saied has increased his power significantly since last year and critics fear a final decline towards autocratic rule.