Tunisian bread riots

Tunisian bread riots
Crowd in Africa Square, Tunis, January 1984
Date29 December 1983 – 5 January 1984
Location
Caused byFood price increase
Casualties
Death(s)c. 150
Injuriesc. 1,000

The Tunisian bread riots (French: émeutes du pain, Arabic: أحداث الخبز) were a series of violent demonstrations in Tunisia that occurred from December 1983 to January 1984, triggered by a rise in the price of bread due to an IMF-imposed austerity program. President Habib Bourguiba declared a state of emergency and the riots were put down by force. Over 100 rioters died. The regime was weakened by the upheavals and the aftermath of food riots. Three years later General Zine El Abidine Ben Ali seized power in a coup.