Leïla Ben Ali million) from the Central Bank of Tunisia (representing half of the Tunisian gold reserves) before fleeing the country when her husband was ousted on 14 January 2011; however, the removal was denied by the bank. The Swiss government announced that it was freezing millions of dollars held in bank accounts by her family. On 20 June 2011, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Leila Ben Ali were sentenced to 35 years in prison "in absentia" after being found guilty of theft and unlawful possession of cash and jewelry. A report came out that Leila may have attempted suicide by poisoning
Gafsa of riots directed against the government of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The government was swift and brutal in its suppression of the uprising, but this movement has since been credited with sowing the first seeds of the Jasmine Revolution that removed Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from power three years later, igniting the Arab Spring across much of North Africa and the Middle East. Recently a lake appeared from nowhere. Gafsa – Ksar International Airport is located in the city. El Kawafel Sportives de Gafsa (Arabic: القوافل الرياضية بقفصة, often referred to as EGSG) is the main football