Please get all four handouts from the table!

Tunisia

December 17, 2010 Protests begin

January 14, 2011 President Zine El

Abidine Ben Ali flees to Saudi Arabia

Changes to Government

Technocratic administration Government controlled by scientists,

engineers and other experts New constitution and electoral board Islamist party Ennahda competes for

power Interim government until elections

this year President Moncef Marzouki

Most advanced women’s rights in the Arab world, gender equality in elected assemblies

Moncef Marzouki

Moncef Marzouki

Problems

Islamist militants threaten attacks

Widespread resentment over unemployment, economic development and the high cost of living

Relies of European tourism, which has fallen

Trafficking continues to be a problem

Increased number of street children

Revolution in Egypt

Causes

Corruption Electoral fraud Censorship Low wages High unemployment Inspiration from other protests

Background

Hosni Mubarak took power in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar El Sadat National Democratic Party One-party rule Continuous state of

emergency Support of the West by

maintaining policies of suppression towards Islamic militants and peace with Israel

Emergency Law

Enacted after the 1967 Six-Day War Police powers extended Constitutional rights suspended Censorship legalized May imprison people without reason and

indefinitely ▪ Cited the threat of terrorism to extend the law▪ Led the imprisonment of activists▪ Hidden detention facilities

Police Brutality

Alleged torture, abuse and death and the hands of police

Activists and observers circulate cellphone video

Police brutality was high in response to protests

Demographic and Economic Challenges

Rapid population growth

Youth bulge Unemployment Living conditions

remained poor Economic

corruption Members of the

NDP seemed to be the only people who benefitted from the nation’s wealth

January 25

Opposition groups called for a planned day of revolt

Protest against police abuse National Police Day

Video blogging, Facebook Tahrir Square

Jan 25 – “Day of Revolt”

Protests Continue

Jan 28 – “Friday of Anger”

Jan 28 – Mubarak says he’ll form a new government

Later that night clashes broke out between revolutionaries and pro-Mubarak demonstrators

Protests continue the next day and on Feb 1 Mubarak makes another address offering more concessions

Feb 2 – “Incident of the Camel”

Feb 5 – Leaders of NDP resign

Feb 6 – Opposition groups begin talks

Feb 11 – Mubarak resigns handing power to the military

After Mubarak

On July 3, 2013 – generals ousted democratically elected Mohamed Morsy Muslim Brotherhood▪ Now banned as a terrorist organization

Field Marshal Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was elected in the spring of 2014

Redrafting the constitution has been conflicted

Problems

High unemployment On the brink of an energy crisis Instability

Repression of protestors and government critics▪ More than 1,400 killed since July

March – 529 death sentences to Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood supporters

Al Jazeera journalists arrested and detained Claims of sexual abuse against women

“virginity tests”

Libyan Revolution

Causes

Fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government

Protests against the government escalated into a rebellion

Background

Muammar Gaddafi – took office in 1969 in coup

The Green Book Stepped down from

power in 1977 Ceremonial position Weak military, outdated

weapons Maintained a balance of

power

The Green Book

1975 – manifesto Decentralized direct

democracy, state run People’s committee’s

which served as local governments

Indirectly elected by the General People’s Committee led by a Secretary-General as the executive branch

Corruption

Oil revenues Offer services or to supporters Spent on arms, sponsoring militant

groups Gaddafi family had a personal

fortune Lavish lifestyles, luxurious homes,

Hollywood film investments and private parties

Proposed reform for oil money to be spent on the people was delayed in 2009

Human Rights

Strict censorship Executed dissidents through public

hangings and mutilations and re-broadcast them on public television channels

Dissident was illegal under Law 75 of 1973 and anyone found guilty of founding a political party would be executed

Feb 17- “Day of Rage”

Revolts

Major demonstrations took place in Benghazi, Ajdabiya, Damah and Zintan among others

Gaddafi forces fired into the crowd Prisoners were released from jail and

paid to fight protestors in Benghazi Mercenaries were hired to

supplement security forces

Benghazi

Rebels take the city after several days of fighting

Several hundred die

Fighters seize the garrison

March

Gaddafi began forcing rebel forces back Libyans in the east were reluctant to oppose

the government On March 17, UN Security Council voted to

impose a no-fly zone over Libya Enforced by NATO French jets began bombing hours after the

resolution passed, US and UK joined afterwards Support from several Arab nations including Qatar

and United Arab Emirates March 21 – second wave of airstrikes (Tripoli)

May 11 – Battle for Misrata

Summer

Surround Gaddafi in Tripoli Captured much needed supplies Allowed them to pass through rebel-

controlled territory and encircle the Gaddafi controlled capital

Opposition cells cause high causalities to rebel units

Gaddafi makes two TV addresses calling on Libyans to fight off the rebel “rats” and saying he will be “with you until the end”

Battle for Tripoli rages through August

August 22

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said his father’s forces were still in control of the city.

September

The interim government meets in Paris to discuss ruling

Production of oil starts again UN Security Council eases sanctions

on Libya Gaddafi taunts NATO in a speech Interim rulers announce that most of

Gaddafi loyalists are captured and the last few are surrounded

Sirte

October

Last strongholds are captured October 20, Gaddafi dies after wounds

being during his capture near Sirte Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the leader of the

NTC declares the liberation of Libya The bodies of Gaddafi,his son

Mutassim and a former aid are moved from display to a planned burial An investigation into the death is planned

Since the downfall

National Transitional Council handed power to the General National Congress Elections held in July 2012 Appointed Prime Minister Ali Zeidan

Tensions between GNC nationalists and Islamists cause fighting and tension

In April, Parliament voted Ali Zeidan out of office over his failure to stop the rebels from exporting oil independently

Problems

Oil production has slowed Armed protestors have seized oil ports and fields

The process for a new constitution has been delayed The 60 member committee chosen to draft

includes only 6 women Political divisions undermine Libya's

transition United States and French embassies closed

in the summer of 2014 due to deteriorating conditions

Syria

Began on March 15, 2011 Family has held power since 1971 Four decades of Ba’ath rule Bashar al-Assad

Causes

Conservative Sunnis Alawite favorability

Cities with high poverty Drought in early 2011 – Daraa and Homs High youth population – unemployment Emergency rule from 1963-2011

War with Israel Banned political parties, censorship Discrimination against ethnic minorities

Syrian Kurds

Background

Bashar al-Assad Alawite sect Offshoot of Shiite Muslim Only 12% of population

2011 protests Restricted coverage Journalists went missing Disabled phones and extracted passwords Targeted and tortured Live ammunition into protests

Groups Fighting

Who’s fighting Government

Loyal to Ba’ath Party Free Syrian Army (FSA)

Defected Syrian armed forces personnel and civilians

Jabhat al-Nusra Jihadist group linked to al-Qaeda

ISIS, Also known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Islamic State (IS). Started as an Al-Qaeda splinter group Fast Facts

Problems

Opposition group is splintered Peace conferences have achieved

nothing Government blames the violence on

terrorists Opposition wants to replace as-Assad Human cost, over 100,000 have died

680,000 wounded Economy has been decimated

Syria

How is Syria different? Leadership Time period Rebel groups Insurgents Foreign support

More information