Tunisian revolt a wake-up call to autocrats

Towards the end of last year, political pundits were guessing what would be the big story of 2011.

Some mentioned the referendum in southern Sudan, others thought it would be the upcoming elections in Uganda and Nigeria while for some, the political impasse in Ivory Coast would grab the headlines.

However the Tunisian people’s revolution appears to have stolen the thunder from the pundit’s wish list. The uprising, which led to the ouster of the authoritarian and repressive regime of President Zine Abidine Ben Ali, should be a wake-up call to all African leaders.