it emerged that these pyramid schemes were unable to keep up with their promised high-interest payments. They all became insolvent. More than half of the population, including my family, lost almost all their savings. People accused the government of colluding with the owners of the companies and took to the streets to demand their money back. The protests, which started in the south, with its strong traditional base of left-wing support, soon extended to the rest of the country. Looting, civilian assaults on military garrisons, and an unprecedented wave of emigration followed. More than two
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