News that shaped 2011

Arab Spring

The year kicked off with a wave of popular protests sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Millions of demonstrators took to the streets calling on the end of corrupt regimes.

Following the protests in Tunisia at the end of 2010, strikes, marches and rallies were held in defiance of other oppressive states across the Middle East and Africa. Fierce responses from authorities, pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators

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Arab Spring

The year kicked off with a wave of popular protests sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Millions of demonstrators took to the streets calling on the end of corrupt regimes.

Following the protests in Tunisia at the end of 2010, strikes, marches and rallies were held in defiance of other oppressive states across the Middle East and Africa. Fierce responses from authorities, pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators against those supporting regime-change often spiraled into violence.

In some countries, massive protests pressured prime ministers and governments into resigning while constitutional reform, respect for human rights, release of political prisoners and economic concessions were granted in others. The Tunisian government was the first Arab regime to fall as a result of the uprisings. In February, Egypt’s Hosni Mubarek stepped down after 30 years in power following 18 days of brave protests.

In other Persian Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, clashes also ended in deadly violence. So far, the waves of disorder across the Arab world have claimed the lives of an estimated 40,000 people with the Spring still ongoing.

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