2010–2011 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROTESTS

Location : Middle East and North Africa

Date : December 18, 2010–ongoing

Goal : Regime change, human rights, democracy

Characteristics: Civil disobedience, civil resistance, demonstrations,riots,self-immolations, strike a

Death(s) : Over 1,600 (self-immolations included)

Injured : Over 10,000

Created and Uploaded by ;Amila Prasad Kariyawasam

Sri Lanka

The 2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests are an unprecedented revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests which have been taking place in the Middle East and North Africa since December 2010. To date Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen have all seen major protests, and minor incidents have occurred in Iraq, Kuwait, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.

The protests have shared extensive use of techniques of civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations, marches, and rallies, as well as the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to organise, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of attempts at state repression. Some of these events, notably the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, which have ended in regime change, have been called revolutions.

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Numerous factors have led to the protests, including accusations of government corruption, dictatorship, human rights violations, lack of jobs, and extreme poverty, coupled with a large percentage of youth within the population.Increasing food prices and rates of famine globally have also been a major reason, involving threats to food security worldwide and prices approaching levels seen during the 2007–2008 world food price crisis.

The protests began on 18 December 2010, in Tunisia, following Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in protest at police corruption and ill-treatment. Due to similar hardships in the region and ultimately successful protests in Tunisia, a chain of unrest was started which was followed by protests in Algeria, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen,and to a lesser degree in other, mostly Arab, states. In many cases the climactic days have been termed"day of rage" or some variation thereof.

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To date, two heads of state have been overthrown—Tunisia's on January 14 and Egypt's on February 11. Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution led President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia. In Egypt, massive protests began on January 25, and after 18 days of protests, President Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt for 30 years, resigned on February 11.

Around the same time, Jordan's King Abdullah named a new prime minister and the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced that he would not seek another term in office in 2013, after what would then be 35 years of rule. During ongoing demonstrations aimed at ousting Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced he would not seek reelection in 2015.

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BACKGROUND AND GENERAL ANALYSIS

In recent decades, rising literacy rates, higher education, living standards and purchasing power parity resulted in a higher human development index in the affected countries. However, most of their governments were perceived as deeply corrupt, and with authoritarian regimes. This contrast between better education, high demand of democracy, and government practices (perceived corruption, political system, supply of democracy) were key indicators which may partly explain the protests.

TUNISIA

December 18, 2010 Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation; major demonstrations; strikes; riots; nationwide protest; attacks to ruling party offices and police stations. The demonstrations and riots were reported to have started over unemployment, food inflation, corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions. The protests were exacerbated by the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi that eventually led to the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who stepped down from the presidency and fled Tunisia on 14 January 2011 after 23 years in power.

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• Announcement by president Ben Ali he won't seek another term in 2014

• Sacking of Government and announcement of early legislative elections in six months

• Ousting of regime: President and family flee the country

• Formation of Government of "national unity" by Prime Minister Ghannouchi

• Disbanding of ruling party's leadership party's removal from Government and suspension of activities

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ALGERIA

On 29 December, clashes with police occurred in Algiers, Algeria, over protests about the lack of housing. At least 53 people were reported to have been injured and another 29 were arrested. In total, three demonstrators were killed, more than 800 people were wounded, and at least 1,100 were arrested.

From 12–19 January, a wave of self-immolation attempts swept the country, beginning with Mohamed Aouichia, who set himself on fire in Bordj Menaiel in protest at his family's housing. On 13 January, Mohsen Bouterfif set himself on fire after a meeting with the mayor of Boukhadra in Tebessa who was unable to offer Bouterfif a job and a house. Bouterfif was reported to have died a few days later; about 100 youths protested his death, causing the provincial governor to sack the mayor.

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On 3 February, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that the 19-year state of emergency would be lifted in the very near future in an apparent bid to stave off unrest, a promise fulfilled on 22 February, when Algeria's cabinet adopted an order to lift the state of emergency. On 5 February, a major "illegal" march was scheduled for the 12th of the month.On 11 February, nearly 2000 pro-democracy protesters clashed with police forces at the central May 1 square.

The government had imposed a ban on all opposition rallies but protesters seemed deteremined to come out on the streets. Reports claim that the police have blocked all entry points into the capital and are arresting activists. Some feel that Algeria could be the next country after Egypt to see change, but analysts believe the government will silence the protests with its oil and gas wealth.

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BAHRAIN

The 2011 Bahraini protests are a series of demonstrations in the Gulf country of Bahrain. The Bahraini protests were initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and respect for human rights, without threatening the monarchy.The protests began in Bahrain on February 14and were largely peaceful until a night raid on 17 February by police against protestors sleeping at Pearl Roundabout in Manama, in which police killed three protestors.Following the deadly 17 February night raid, the protestors' aims expanded to a call to end the monarchy.

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As of 18 February 2011, six people have been killed and hundreds injured.The death toll continues to rise as Bahraini police and military attempt to disperse protesting crowds using tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. Bahraini army tanks moved in to quash street protests and blocked the Pearl roundabout specifically (which protesters had planned to convert into Bahrain's Tahrir Square) apart from entries and exits into Manama. The hospital where the dead protesters and mourners have gathered is still very much untouched.

After the violent crackdown, protesters started calling for overthrow of the Bahraini King and not just the Prime Minister.On February 18, government forces opened fire on protesters, mourners and news journalists.On February 19, protesters occupied Pearl Square after Bahrain's government orders troops and then police to withdraw.On February 22, an estimated one hundred thousand people, one fifth of the population of the country, marched.

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EGYPTProtests in Egypt began on 25 January and ran for

eighteen days. Starting at around midnight on 28 January, the Egyptian government almost entirely cut off the country from internet access. Later that day, as tens of thousands protested on the streets of Egypt's major cities, President Mubarak formally fired his government and appointed a new one. Mubarak also appointed the first Vice President in almost 30 years.

On 2 February, pro-Mubarak activists armed and riding camels and horses began to attack protesters with Molotov cocktails. Many international journalists complained of harassment and one local journalist was killed in the protests.

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On 11 February, Mubarak ceded all Presidential power to Vice President Omar Suleiman, but announced that he would remain as President, wanting to finish his term. However, protests continued the next day before which Suleiman announced that Mubarak had resigned from the presidency and transferred all power to the Armed Forces of Egypt.

Immediately after, the now-ruling military dissolved the Egyptian Parliament, suspended the Constitution of Egypt, and promised to lift the thirty-year "emergency laws" of the country and to force free, open elections within the next six months, or by the end of the year.States and ordinary citizens in places across the world either expressed solidarity with the protests or were cautious. A few states in the region were supportive of Mubarak holding on to power.

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On 21 February, David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, became the first world leader to visit Egypt since Mubarak was ousted as the president 10 days previously. A news blackout was lifted as the prime minister landed in Cairo for a brief five-hour stopover hastily added at the start of a planned tour of the Middle East.

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IRANThe 32 anniversary of the Iranian Revolution was said

to have had a low turnout on 11 February 2011. At the behest of Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, opposition leaders called for nationwide protest marches for 14 February. Rumours suggested that the protesters would include university students, lorry drivers and gold merchants from across the country under the umbrella opposition known as the Green movement in what was seen as an inspiration of events from Egypt and Tunisia.

The Revolutionary Guard said it would forcefully confront protesters. Opposition activists and aides to Mousavi and Karroubi had been arrested in the days before the protests.The opposition protesters used a similar tactic from the 2009 protests in which they chanted "Allahu Akbar" and "Death to the dictator" into the early morning hours.

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Reports from the demonstrations of 14 February describe clashes between protesters and security forces in Tehran, where 10,000 security forces had been deployed to prevent protesters from gathering at Azadi Square, where the marches, originating from Enghelab, Azadi and Vali-Asr streets, were expected to converge. Police reportedly fired tear gas and used pepper spray and batons to disperse protesters. Clashes were also reported in Isfahan. It was reported up to a third of a million protesters marched in Tehran alone on February 14.

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IRAQIn an effort to prevent potential unrest, Iraqi Prime Minister

Nouri al-Maliki announced that he will not run for a third term in 2014. Nevertheless, hundreds of protesters gathered in several major Iraqi urban areas on 12 February (notably Baghdad and Karbala) demanding a more effective approach to the issue of national security and investigation into federal corruption cases, as well as government action towards making public services fair and accessible.In response, the government of Iraq subsidised electricity costs. I srael's Haaretz reported that a 31-year-old man in Mosul died after he self-immolated in protest against unemployment. Haaretz also reported a planned "Revolution of Iraqi Rage" to be held on 25 February near the Green Zone. February 16, up to 2,000 protesters took over a provincial council building in the city of Kut. The protesters demanded the provincial governor resign due to a lack of basic services such as electricity and water. Up to three people were reported killed and 30 injured.

JORDAN

On 14 January, protests took place in Jordan's capital Amman, and at Ma'an, Al Karak, Salt and Irbid, and other cities. The protests, led by trade unionists and leftist parties, came after Friday prayers, and called for the government led by Prime Minister Samir Rifai to step down. They chanted anti-government slogans and called Rifai a "coward". One banner in the protest read "Jordan is not only for the rich. Bread is a red line. Beware of our starvation and fury," while protesters chanted "Down with Rifai's government. Unify yourselves because the government wants to eat your flesh.

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Raise fuel prices to fill your pocket with millions." Tawfiq al-Batoush, a former head of the Karak municipality, said: "We are protesting the policies of the government, high prices and repeated taxation that made the Jordanian people revolt." The Muslim Brotherhood and 14 trade unions said they would hold a sit-down protest outside parliament the next day to "denounce government economic policies". Parallels were drawn with the Tunisian protests.The Jordanian government reversed a fuel price rise following the protest.

Al Jazeera stated that protests are expected to continue for several weeks because of increasing food pricesOn 21 January, 5,000 people in Amman took part in the largest protest so far.On 1 February, the Royal Palace announced that King Abdullah sacked the government as a consequence of the street protests and asked Marouf al-Bakhit, a former army general, to form a new Cabinet.

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King Abdullah told Bakhit his authority will be to "take quick, concrete and practical steps to launch a genuine political reform process". The reforms should put Jordan on the path "to strengthen democracy", and provide Jordanians with the "dignified life they deserve"..

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KUWAIT

In a move seen by some as attempt to head off economic issues as a cause for unrest, Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah gave all "its citizens free food rations and a grant of $4,000. Officially the grant is in commemoration of "the 20th anniversary of Kuwait's liberation from occupying Iraqi forces and which also marks the 50th anniversary of the state's independence."

The cost of the food is estimated at 230 million dinars ($818 million) and will be available from February 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012.who?Opposition groups called for protests on March 8, and dozens of stateless Arabs demonstrated in Kuwait on February 19.

LIBYAAnti-government protests in Libya started on February 13,

2011. By February 18, most of Benghazi, the country's second-largest city, was controlled by the opposition. At this stage, elite troops and mercenaries were sent by the government to retake the town, but they were repelled. At the time, it was estimated that at least 84 had been killed since the violence began. Protests had spread to the capital Tripoli by February 20, which led to a television address by Seif al-Islam, who warned that the protestors that country may descend into civil war.

The rising death toll, which currently numbers in the hundreds, has drawn international condemnation, with several Libyan diplomats resigning and calling for the regime to be dismantled. By 18 February, the opposition controlled most of Benghazi, the country's second-largest city. The government dispatched elite troops and mercenaries in an attempt to recapture it, but they were repelled. It was estimated that at least 6,000 had been killed to that point. Cont…

By 20 February, protests had spread to the capital Tripoli, leading to a television address by Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, who warned the protestors that their country could descend into civil war. The rising death toll, which currently numbers in the thousands, was drawing international condemnation, resulting in the resignation of several Libyan diplomats and their call for the regime's dismantlement.

On 26 February 2011, amidst ongoing efforts by demonstrators and rebel forces to wrest control of Tripoli from the jamahiriya, the opposition set up an interim government in Benghazi to oppose Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's rule. However, despite initial opposition success, government forces subsequently took back much of the Mediterranean coast.

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On 19 March, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 established a no-fly zone over Libya. Once it was in place and international forces had commenced bombing pro-Gadaffi assets, rebel forces quickly moved along the northern seaboard, capturing recently lost Ajdabiya, Brega, and Ra's Lanouf, as well as cities that they hadn't yet held, such as those along the road to Sirte. However, pro-government forces have since retaken many of the cities, forcing the rebels to withdraw back toward Ajdabiya in the east, though they have reportedly made gains in the Nafusa Mountains in the west.

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SAUDI ARABIAIn Saudi Arabia, an unidentified 65-year-old man died on

21 January after setting himself on fire in the town of Samtah, Jizan. This was apparently the kingdom's first known case of self-immolation.On 29 January, hundreds of protesters gathered in the city of Jeddah in a rare display of criticism against the city's poor infrastructure after deadly floods swept through the city, killing eleven people. Police stopped the demonstration about 15 minutes after it started.

About 30 to 50 people were arrested.[186] On the same day, an online campaign started on Facebook, making demands that included calling for Saudi Arabia to become a constitutional monarchy, and for "an end to corruption, an even distribution of wealth, and a serious solution for unemployment".On 5 February, about 40 women wearing black clothes demonstrated in Riyadh, calling for the release of prisoners held without trial.

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On 10 February, a Thomson Reuters report claimed that 10 intellectuals, human rights activists and lawyers came together to create the Umma Islamic Party – considered to be the first political party in Saudi Arabia since the 1990s – to demand the end of absolute monarchy in the country. On 18 February, all ten founding members of the party were arrested and ordered to withdraw demands for political reform in exchange for their release.

On 23 February, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, after returning to the country following three months spent abroad for health treatment, announced a series of benefits for citizens amounting to $10.7 billion. These include funding to offset high inflation and to aid young unemployed people and Saudi citizens studying abroad, as well the writing off some loans. As part of the Saudi scheme, state employees will see their incomes increase by 15 per cent, and additional cash has also been made available for housing loans. No political reforms were announced as part of the package, though the 86-year-old monarch did pardon some prisoners indicted in financial crimes.

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SOMALIAOn 13 February, hundreds of youth marched in the long

road between the KM4 and Banaadir junctions, in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, demonstrating against both the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), led by President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, and the Islamist insurgent group Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahedeen (HSM), led by Sheikh Ibrahim "al-Afghani", which controls much of the country. Protestors said they would continue until they overcame their leaders like in Egypt and Tunisia. At least 7 of the demonstration organizers were seized and taken into custody by the TFG.

On 15 February, forces loyal to the Transitional Federal Government fired at a protest,[193] killing 4 and injuring 11 protestors.[194] This was condemned by Hawiye clan elders in Mogadishu.[195] TFG President Sharif Ahmed called on the "international community to help and support the TFG's governmental institutions to get the ability of handling the current unrest." Cont…

On 17 February, the TFG announced they had arrested 5 people, including 4 police officers, which they said, were responsible for the shooting. Meanwhile, Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed "Farmajo" held a press conference were he said that he was "very sorry for the civilian casualties" and he sent his condolences to their families.

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SUDANOn 30 January, protests took place in Khartoum and Al-

Ubayyid. In Khartoum, police clashed with demonstrators in the town centre and at least two universities. Demonstrators had organized on online social networking sites since the Tunisian protests the month before. Hussein Khogali, editor in chief of the Al-Watan newspaper stated that his daughter had been arrested for organizing the protest via Facebook and opposition leader Mubarak al-Fadil's two sons were arrested while on their way to the main protest.

Pro-government newspapers had warned that protests would cause chaos. Some protesters called for President Omar al-Bashir to step down. Activists said that dozens of people had been arrested. The protests came on the same day the preliminary results for the referendum indicated some 99% of South Sudanese voted to secede.[200] One student died in hospital the same night from injuries received in the clashes.[201] Students threw rocks at police officers while chanting "No to high prices, no to corruption" and "Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan together as one." Police officers arrested five and put down the protest. Cont…

In the Al-Ubayyid (el-Obeid) 30 January demonstration, about 500 people protested "against the government and demanding change" in the market. Police broke up the demonstration using tear gas.

On 1 February, about 200 students demonstrated in front of Al-Neelain University in Khartoum. Police stopped the demonstration.On 17 January, security forces in Sudan arrested the head of the Popular Congress Party, Hassan al-Turabi, as well as five other members of the party, after he called for a similar protest to oust the ruling government over electoral fraud, stoking inflation and abrogating civil liberties at a time when Sudan was facing a secessionist referendum.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said journalists are facing increasing harassment. On 30 January, journalists were beaten by security forces and at least eight were detained. The following day, the distribution of several opposition newspapers was blocked by authorities. In late January, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies reported that more than 100 people had been detained on the first day of protests and that activists were being "taken from their homes and offices".On 21 February, President Omar al-Bashir announced that he would not seek to run in the next presidential election in 2015.

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SYRIAOn 26 January 2011, Hasan Ali Akleh from Al-Hasakah

poured gasoline and burned himself in the same way as Mohamed Bouazizi. According to eyewitnesses, the action was "a protest against the Syrian government". On 29 January 2011, news channel Al Arabiya reported that Internet connection was cut off, that was quickly denied by official sources. On 28 January 2011, a demonstration was held in Ar-Raqqah during the evening, in protest against the killing of two soldiers of Kurdish descent.

On 31 January 2011, the Wall Street Journal ran an exclusive interview with Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, in which he said it's time to reform. In a comment on the protests in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, he said a "new era" is coming to the Middle East, and that Arab rulers would need to do more to accommodate their people's rising political and economic aspirations. Cont…

On 3 February another “Day of rage” was called for in Syria from 4–5 February on social media sites Facebook and Twitter. Protesters demand reform in the government, however most protests so far have remained outside of Syria and have been small.

The protests were expected to begin on 4 February 2011 as social media mobilised the people of Syria for rallies demanding freedom, human rights and the end to the state of emergency. Protests were also scheduled for 5 February in front of the parliament in Damascus and at Syrian embassies internationally.The planned protests had been named "Day of Rage." The only known action took place February 5, where hundreds of protesters in Al-Hasakah participated in a mass demonstration, calling for the President's departure. Syrian authorities have arrested dozens and the demonstration was triggered quickly.

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President Bashar al-Assad has declared that his state is immune from the kinds of mass protests taking place in Egypt. Al Jazeera also reported plans to increase security for the planned "days of rage." Days before the planned protests, Syrian authorities arrested several political activists, such as businessman Ghassan al-Najar, leader of the Islamic Democratic movement, the writer Ali al-Abdallah, Abbas Abbas, from Syrian Communist Party and several other political personalities of Kurdish backgrounds, such as Adnan Mustafa.

Suhair Atassi, who runs the banned Jamal Atassi Forum, called for political reforms and the reinstatement of civil rights, as well as an end to the emergency law in place since 1963. However, no protests occurred on either date. Though internet services were said to have been curbed, Facebook and Youtube were reported to have been restored on 8 February. Suggestions were made that easing the ban could be a way to track activists. After the failure of attempts to a "day of rage," Al Jazeera called the country "a kingdom of silence" and identified key factors for stability within Syria as being strict security measures, the popularity of President Bashar al-Assad, and fears of potential sectarian violence in the aftermath of a government ouster.

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On February 14, blogger and student Tal al-Mallohi was sentenced to five years in prison for spying for the United States. Washington denied these allegations and asked for the release Tal immediately. February 15, under pressure from human rights organizations, the Syrian government released Ghassan al-Najjar, a "veteran Islamist activist" after he went on hunger strike following his arrest for calling for mass protests. February 16, regime critic and director of the Organisation for Democracy and Freedom in Syria (ODFS) Ribal al-Assad, the son of Rifaat al-Assad and cousin to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held a press conference in London, where he made it clear that he "does not want to see a Syrian revolution, but a peaceful change of power".

On February 17, a fight took place in central Damascus, between a shop owner and traffic police. Everything took a new turn when three police officers began attacking the man and beat him severely. Several people gathered around and blocked the road, while shouting "the Syrian people will not be pushed down". An eyewitness estimated the number to more than 1,500 demonstrators. Secret police officers arrived quickly to the scene along with several "big names" and finally Minister of the Interior who scared away the demonstrators. The minister took the shop owner in his car and promised to investigate what had happened. A couple of hours later, several video versions were posted on YouTube

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On February 19, several Syrian websites reported widespread anti-government graffiti across Damascus and other major cities. Syrian security police have arrested Fares Serawan days after the demonstration to his participation. On February 21, blogger Ahmad Abu al-Khair was reportedly arrested by Syrian security forces early Sunday morning. Security police have arrested dozens of Kurds near Damascus, and in preparation for a massive uprising, the al-Baath party sent 180 000 additional soldiers to support the security forces after a new wave of graffiti appeared with anti-regime messages. The security forces have gone into schools and questioned students and requested their email addresses.

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CHINAThere were calls made via social networks such as Twitter to

begin a "Jasmine Revolution" in China. Chinese authorities arrested activists,] increased the normal police presence, disabled some cell phone text messaging services and deleted Internet postings about protests planned for 14:00 on 20 February in Beijing, Shanghai and 11 other cities. On the day of the protests, the police turned out en masse to all of the potential protest locations in various cities around the country.

Small crowds, including a large number of foreign journalists, gathered at the planned site in Beijing and Shanghai but did not chant slogans or hold signs. CPC General Secretary and President Hu Jintao responded by calling top leaders into a "study session" to root out and tackle social issues before they "become threats to stability". In a speech at the Central Party School, Hu called out for tighter restrictions to the internet.

WORLD ECONOMY

As many of the world's major oil producing countries are in the Middle East, the unrest has sent oil prices higher. The International Monetary Fund accordingly revised its forecast for 2011 oil prices to reflect a higher price, and also reported that food prices could rise. Additionally, concerns about Egypt's Suez Canal have raised shipping and oil prices.

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