Arab World 2011 - The complete round up

ALGERIA

Rioting over the cost of food and unemployment took place in the capital Algiers on January 7th, just weeks after the uprising in neighbouring Tunisia began. As in Tunisia, self-immolation became a form of protest. A long-running state of emergency was lifted in April in a bid to stem protests, but while many of the problems of fellow North African nations are present in Algeria, so is the memory of a bloody civil war in the 1990s.

STATUS: Protests led to reform over the year.

BAHRAIN

Sunni-ruled but majority Shia, Bahrain was the first Gulf state to experience protests, when mostly Shia protesters took to the streets around Pearl Square. Government raids on protesters’ tents turn fatal, before global attention turned to Bahrain’s hospitals, where medics were targeted for treating protesters. At least 100 students and staff were also expelled from university for attending rallies or criticising the government online.

In March, Sunni Saudi Arabia backed its fellow US-ally by sending troops across a shared causeway to put an end to the protests. In December, a government-appointed commission found that 35 people had been killed in the uprising, including five security personnel. Some 2,929 were detained, and 700 remained in prison. Pledges of reform included plans to address alleged human rights abuses in the military.

Killed: Approximately 35, according to a government inquiry.

STATUS: Major protests and ensuing deaths led to inqiury and promises of reform.

DJIBOUTI

An ethnically mixed country with many Arabic-speakers. In February Djibouti experienced its first protests inspired by uprisings in North Africa when opposition groups claimed 30,000 people protested against the President’s dynastic rule. The government said far fewer people took part.

South Africa’s Defenceweb reported that violent protests continued into March in response to the President’s amending of the constitution to allow himself a third term in office.

STATUS: Little change on the surface in this one-party state.

EGYPT

On January 17th an Egyptian copycat protester was the first to set himself alight in anti-government protests.  By January 26th, huge protests were taking place across the country, including over 100,000 at Cairo’s Tahrir Square. A government commission reported that 846 deaths occurred between January 25th and February 11th, when President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, handing power to the military. Many deaths occurred during fighting between protesters and nominally civilian backers of the government.

In October, rising sectarian tension was highlighted by a night of violence which left at least 26 Coptic Christians dead.

Despite a looming election, protests flared again in November in response to the slow process of reform and the military’s ongoing role. Over 40 were killed when police cracked down in Cairo and Alexandria. In the first phase of elections, the Muslim Brotherhood-linked FJP won 36.6 per cent, with hardline Salafists Al-Nur clocking up 24.4 per cent of the vote.

Killed: Approximately 900 - Amnesty/SBS

STATUS: The most complete of the uprisings with the exception of Tunisia; President Mubarak ousted, with a first round of voting for a new government held. Islamists secured big wins - sectarian tension and liberal/conservative fault lines present a challenge in 2011.

IRAQ

Iraq has not been immune to the Arab Spring. Protests have taken place this year against government corruption, as well food costs and power shortages. Organisers have cited the Arab Spring as inspiration, with an end to foreign occupation an additional demand. Two people were killed in the town of Sulaymaniyah during protests on Feb 17th, Reuters reported. Days before Egypt’s Mubarak fell, Iraqi PM Maliki said he would not seek a third term in power. The situation in neighboring Syria, from where militants have previously entered Iraq, is of concern to Iraq’s government.

STATUS: As US troops leave the country, dealing with calls for democratic reform - including the complaints of maltreatment of protesters - are one of many challenges. Prime Minister Maliki says he won't seek another term in power.

JORDAN

Protests in Jordan began in January at the same time as they were spreading across Egypt. Unionists joined Islamists in demanding change from the Monarch, with the King swearing in a new cabinet in February. At least one death was reported in clashes between protesters and the King’s backers in March.

STATUS: New cabinet sworn in, mood for protest appears to have dimmed somewhat since beginning of year.

KUWAIT

In February, stateless Bedouin protesters took to the streets in Kuwait in a bid to gain citizenship. Protests against the Prime Minister’s rule took place in summer, with thousands reportedly turning out in September in anger at the ruling Emir’s mishandling of the economy as well as alleged corruption.

In November, demonstrators and some MPs stormed parliament demanding the resignation of the PM, a wish which was later fulfilled. A new PM from the ruling family was appointed at the end of November – a week later, parliament was dissolved and elections called.

STATUS: Political uncertainty has increased towards end of 2011 - at the end of the year, parliament was dissolved and elections were called.

LEBANON

Lebanon is arguably the most open society in the Arab world, and as a democracy, has remained relatively stable – by Lebanese standards – during 2011. Arab Spring-inspired protests in Beirut took place in April calling for reform of the national system of power sharing based on religious affiliation. News agency AFP reported calls of ‘Revolution against the regime!’, but, unlike elsewhere, there were no deaths at the hands of authorities.

STATUS: For the most part Lebanon remains preoccupied with other issues, not least the ongoing trial for four Hezbollah members indicted in the killing of former PM Hariri.

LIBYA

Protests against the longstanding Colonel Gaddafi would turn in to the bloodiest conflict of all of 2011’s Arab uprisings. They began in the eastern city of Benghazi, historically a centre of resistance in this tribal society. Libya was also the only country to experience a direct military intervention from Western nations, when NATO began an air campaign to assist rebel fighters. According to the National Transitional Council, 30,000 were killed in a full-blown war of attrition.

In October, Colonel Gaddafi was finally captured by rebel fighters after weeks on the run. His bloodied body becomes a spectacle for jubilant Libyans and the glaring eye of the global media.

Killed: Numbers differ widely, but somewhere in the middle is the 30,000 figure provided by the NTC.

STATUS: After rebels ousted and killed Colonel Gaddafi with the aid of NATO, the National Transitional Council took over. In August, it pledged elections within eight months.Tripoli residents have protested the ongoing presence of militias in the city, although they currently provide the only security.

MAURITANIA

The majority-Arab African nation of Mauritania experienced the knock-on effects of unrest in Tunisia when a man set himself on fire in January. This helped lead to a group of activists forming the ‘February 25’ movement but promises of reform and also repression helped to distill further unrest.

STATUS: Minor promises of reform after protests.

MOROCCO

Large protests began in cities across Morocco on February 20th, demanding reform of the monarchy. Five people were reported killed in a fire at a bank during protests, although government spokesmen blamed football hooligans. The fire took place in the town of Al Hoceima, as dozens of public buildings were set on fire around the country, reports said.

At the start of July, voters back constitutional reforms touted by the King to stave off the unrest in other North African countries, although many activists say enough was not done to curb his power. The first election following the reform was held in November, with the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party coming out on top in a government set to have more power independent of the Monarch than its predecessors.

Killed: Five in fire during protests, according to the Guardian.

STATUS: Protests led to promises of reform from the King, with Islamists coming out on top in elections criticised in some liberal quarters for their low turnout.

OMAN

The formerly isolated Gulf nation of Oman was not immune to protests. At the start of the year, people took to the streets to call for salary increases, political reform and the sacking of corrupt government ministers. In the town of Sohar, a supermarket and police station were reportedly set ablaze - six people were reportedly killed by security forces.

Amongst demands were calls for the abolition of all taxes, as is the case in some Gulf nations much wealthier than Oman.  Amongst the reforms, the Sultan in this US ally issued a minimum wage increase and reshuffled his cabinet to ease tensions.

Killed: Six, according to a government hospital.

STATUS: Reforms with economic measures brought an end to large protests.

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

Analysts are divided as to whether the ‘Arab Spring’ reached the Palestinian Territories where the struggle for most residents, above and beyond Fatah and Hamas, is with the state of Israel. Yet thousands engaged in protests in May, including the hundreds of Syrian-based Palestinians who unusually surged across the contested Golan Heights to commemorate their ‘Nakhba’, or the anniversary of the creation of Israel. Four people were killed, with critics of the Syrian government alleging that the act was permitted to take attention from Syria's domestic issues.

STATUS: Attention focused towards UN recognition in second half of the year.

QATAR

Now the richest country in the world per capita, Qatar is one of the few Arab states to have almost avoided protests. Activists called for marches at the height of the Egyptian uprising, and some small gatherings did take place. To dampen the mood for protest, pay and benefit hikes of 60 per cent for public employees were reportedly launched, with a 120 per cent boost given to military officers. There is officially no one below the poverty line in Qatar, although many Asian migrant workers suffer from lower labour-standards.

STATUS: Stable

SOMALIA

Ongoing widespread conflict in Somalia makes a review of protests influenced by the Arab Spring impossible.

STATUS: Ongoing instability.

SAUDI ARABIA

Protests took place in the Kingdom at the beginning of the year but were quelled by the army, which reportedly fired live ammunition above the crowds. One of the first began in January, reportedly over the reaction to deadly floods. By Saudi standards, it was a momentous year for dissent. Protests took place in the Shia-majority east of Sunni-led Saudi Arabia over January, February and March, with demonstrators calling for the release of prisoners held without charge, and equality for Shia Muslims. In November, the government announced that four people had been killed after ‘terrorists’ attacked security forces in Qatif.

Reformist political parties were announced before being quashed, while other protests have called for the advancement of women’s rights, an issue addressed by the government with a pledge to allow women the right to drive in five year’s time.

But by and large, attempts to placate dissent have focused on financial incentives, reportedly beginning with a $US37 billion benefits package including pay rises, grants for students, and housing units for low income families. A commission to fight corruption was also set up.

Killed: At least four, according to the government.

STATUS: A big year for Saudi Arabia led to reform which say the government spend big -US$37b- to placate unrest. Nevertheless, Shia in the east may in particular not be placated in 2012.

SYRIA

Demonstrations calling for reform of the Assad-regime began in February, with groups of young activists holding candlelight vigils in the capital Damascus. Since then, the security situation has steadily worsened and Syria is on the verge of – if not already engaged in – civil war. In mid-December, the UN's human rights chief said that over 5000 people had been killed, many at the hands of brutal government forces and militia, although there have been multiple reports of army defectors and groups the government calls ‘terrorists’ killing Syrian troops. Thousands were in detention, she said.

There is an added ethnic element to the uprising with majority Sunni centres such as Homs and Hama at the centre of protests against the Alawi-dominated state apparatus; Alawis also enjoy positions of power - and loyalty - with the armed forces. In the two biggest cities of Damascus and Aleppo the protests have failed to gain a major foothold, where many citizens - including minorities such as Christians - fear what may come following the downfall of the Assad regime.

Calls for intervention have largely fallen on deaf ears despite an increased ostracising of Damascus by the Arab League, Western nations and neighbouring Turkey. In early December, President Assad told ABC (US) he was not giving direct orders for the killings, while the Arab League was attempting to get Iraq to mediate in allowing observers in the country.

Killed: 5000 according to the UN

STATUS: The prospect of a bloody 2012, a civil war and regional instability has many observers concerned, as any mediation between the still largely fractured opposition and the Assad regime remains elusive.

SUDAN

Sudan has its problems with multiple conflicts away from any demands for reform from urbanised Arabs. Yet although President Bashir said in November that ‘no Arab Spring’ would occur in his country, protests did take place in the capital Khartoum in January, as well as in the city of El-Obeid, as turmoil rocked Egypt. Students clashed with riot police and demanded the trial of the President for war crimes, on top of calls for change. Reuters reported opposition claims, backed by hospital sources, that one student was killed. The government denied this.

Killed: One, according to Reuters.

STATUS: Sudan remains engaged in conflicts with bigger implications for the country than the domestic protests which fizzled out.

TUNISIA

On December 17th, 2010, an unemployed graduate named Mohamed Bouazizi had his market vegetable-cart seized by police in the town of Sidi Bouzid. Bouazizi set himself alight in protest, sparking riots in the town. Also fueling anger were unemployment and inflation, as well as recent revelations about the regime from the WikiLeaks website.

President Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14th, before returning to face trial. In November, Tunisia held fresh elections with moderate Islamist party Ennahda coming out on top.  A UN torture expert said 300 people had been killed when he visited the country in May.

Killed: Approx 300, according to the UN.

STATUS: The most complete of the revolutions to have taken place. Former leader Ben Ali is facing trial, while the tasks of the new Islamist-dominated government are well under way. Increased freedom of speech has seen some clashes between liberals and supporters of a conservative take on Islam.

UAE (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)

A group of five activists was arrested for calling for democratic reforms online in April; they were convicted in November, pardoned and freed a day later. Any attempts to form political parties are quickly shut down in the wealthy Gulf state.

A number of workers were also reported arrested over a labour-conditions protest in the UAE’s largest Emirate, Dubai, in January.  Syrians and Libyans in the UAE have protested their own governments’ embassies throughout the year.

STATUS: Stable

YEMEN

Multiple conflicts in Yemen make an analysis of which confrontations are part of a broader ‘Arab Spring’ movement difficult, but calls for President Saleh to step down took place throughput the year. Saleh has tried to crush protests which have driven the country to almost all-out civil war, on top of its US-backed ongoing battle with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The poorest country in the Arab world, Yemen was already a weak state before 2011, with high unemployment and challenges including a booming population and a serious lack of water. In 2011, the fight against insurgents claimed hundreds of lives in both the north and south of the country.

Saleh lost the support of key military figures and his forces engaged in exchanges of shellfire within the capital, in which even he was injured so badly that he was flown to Saudi Arabia. At the start of December, he was said to be stepping down within days.

Killed: 400+ protesters- according to the Yemen Observatory for Human Rights. In September, Amnesty said 200 had been killed.

STATUS: Yemen remains unstable with conflict on multiple fronts. On December 10th,  a new government was sworn in, with the government and coalition to take control of an equal number of ministries, Bloomberg reported, although protests were not immediately quelled. A presidential election is set for February 21st.

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