Photo Essay: The Escape

Zied Ben Romdhane’s photography explores the lives of young Tunisians as they make do with a reality that falls far short of what the 2011 revolution demanded.

It’s not easy being young in today’s Tunisia. Among youth under 24, unemployment hovers around 40%. They have come of age in a decade marked by political instability, economic crisis and social inequality. Zied Ben Romdhane’s photography, which won the Africa long term project category in the 2024 World Press Photo Contest, explores the lives of young Tunisians as they make do with a reality that falls far short of the democracy, social justice and freedom of expression that the 2011 revolution demanded.

Photos: © Zied Ben Romdhane Magnum Photos, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, AIM LAB