Summary:

On 9 April 2024, a 22-year-old man in the village of Bouhajla in the governorate of Kairouan died after self-immolating near a police station following a dispute with local police officers. 

                                 [mepr-show if=”loggedout”] Please login or purchase an InBrief membership to view the rest of this report [/mepr-show] [mepr-show if=”loggedin”]

The man, Yassine Selmi, had reportedly been involved in trying to resolve an altercation between local residents which involved the police. Reports indicate that Selmi was threatened with arrest by the local police, prompting him to depart the area. He then returned to the police station with a gasoline container, which he used to set himself on fire. 

In early 2023, a former Tunisian football player died from his self-immolation in Haffouz, another small town in Kairouan. His actions also followed a conflict with police. 

In the days prior, a woman in Sfax was reportedly seriously injured after self-immolating due to a conflict with police over her operation of a goods stand. 

Outlook: 

As Tunisia’s economic struggles have continued, the interior areas continue to experience some of the most severe impacts, including unemployment, shortages of goods, and the continued attempts at irregular migration by citizens. 

Tensions with police are inevitable as various aspects of life are pushed into black and grey markets that can create the possibility for conflicts with law enforcement.  As creative solutions emerge to make a profit or acquire goods not easily found, citizens can easily run afoul of an often opaque justice system. 

With communities under growing financial and social pressure, such events are likely to continue and could serve as a growing warning to the administration in Tunis that patience for economic and social reform is growing thin. 

[/mepr-show]

Explore our services or speak with our team of North Africa-based risk experts.