Unrest in North Africa

For the past few months or so it seems that countries in North Africa are claiming their independence.  Tunisia, Egypt, and now Libya have been in the headlines.  They are seeking a new life and denouncing the status quo. 

In Tunisia, the people ousted out their president due to lack of freedoms, lack of employment, and increases in cost of living, poverty, and corruption.  The president resigned on January 14.  Soon the prime minister resigned leaving an interim government with Beji Cai el Sebsi at the helm as president.  On Thursday the government announced that within governmental elections would be held on July 24.  General elections would be held later.

All of the tensions stem from an incident in which a citizen did not have a license for a food cart, his family's only source of income.  He was confronted by police and was insulted.  He went to the police station and was ignored.  He later returned to the police precinct and set himself on fire.  The public was outraged and began protesting.  A protest against corruption and lack of freedom.

Egypt's protestors take to the streets to oust out their leader Mubarak.  At first he fired his cabinet and other government officials but that was not enough for the protestors outside the door.  They wanted new laws, new freedoms, and better lives.  The want more say so in the government and an end to the economic difficulties in their country.

Libya has been under the control of Qadaffi for over thirty years.  This year

 they say that they have had enough.  In the eastern part of the country rebels have control.  In the west Qadaffi's forces have control.  Hoping not to have a civil war Qadaffi's long time friend Hugo Chavez has offered to conduct mediations between the government and the rebels.  Rebel forces have declined the invitation.  But Qadaffi's forces have been at work forcing protestors off the street and creating fear in the opposition. 

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Author Profile: Carly Greene

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