Bouazizi

Mohamed Bouazizi (1984–2011) was a Tunisian street vendor whose act of self-immolation in December 2010 became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and helped spark the wider Arab Spring. Born in Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia, Bouazizi sold fruit and vegetables to support his family and to help others in his community.

On December 17, 2010, after a confrontation with a municipal inspector who confiscated his wares and money, Bouazizi reportedly protested by dousing himself with petrol and setting himself on fire. He survived the initial incident for about two weeks, but died on January 4, 2011, in a hospital in Sfax. His act drew national and international attention to grievances over unemployment, corruption, police harassment, and the lack of economic and political opportunity in Tunisia.

In the aftermath, protests and strikes spread across Tunisia, culminating in the resignation of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. Bouazizi’s self-immolation was widely seen as a powerful symbol of frustration with the status quo and a demand for dignity and reform. His death prompted extensive media coverage and became a lasting symbol for movements seeking political accountability and economic change in the region.

Legacy of Bouazizi continues in scholarly and public discourse as a key commemorative figure of the Arab Spring, illustrating how individual acts of protest can resonate with broader social and political movements.