The Arab Spring, otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the

Arab world that began on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 following Mohamed Bouazizis self-immolation in protest of police corruption and ill treatment. The protests involved strikes, demonstrations, marches and rallies, as well as the use of social media to organize, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of state attempts at repression and internet censorship. Many demonstrations have met violent responses from authorities, as well as from pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators.

Arab Spring
Libya
Moammar Gadha

IN MINUTES

News and events visually

Egypt

Syria

Tunisia

Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali

In power since 1987 Killed on Oct. 20, 2011

Mohamed Hosni Mubarak

Bachar al-Assad
In power since 2000 to present

In power since 1981 Resigned on Feb. 11, 2011

In power since 1987 Resigned on Jan. 14, 2011

MOROCCO ALGERIA

300 dead

LEBANON

5,000 deadIRAQ
JORDAN

IRAN KUWAIT BAHRAIN

1000 km

10,000/ 850 30,000 dead

dead
SUDAN

DEC 17 Mohamed Bouazizi, a Tunisian vegetable peddler sets himself ablaze after his cart is conscated by a policewoman who slapped him and spat in his face. The incident causes long-simmering frustrations over injustice, poverty and the greed of the political elite to spill over into protests, which are brutally subdued. DEC. 2010 JAN. 2011

SAUDI ARABIA OMAN

Yemen
Ali Abdallah Saleh
In power since 1978 Resigned on Feb. 21, 2011

Government overthrown Protests, riots and/or demonstrations Sustained civil disorder and governemental changes

3,000 dead DJIBOUTI

FROM MUTINY TO DEMOCRACY

JAN. 25 Early rioting begins in Egypt FEB. FEB. 14 Riots begin in Iran and in Bahrain MAR. MAR. 15 Dozens of protestors are killed in Bahrain APR. AUG. 3 Hosni Mubarak is put on trial. He is accused of being responsible for the deaths of all the protestors JUN. JUL.

As of Dec., 2011, three countries have seen their governments overthrown: Tunisia: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ed to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14, 2011 following the Tunisian revolution protests. Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak resigned on Feb. 11, 2011 after 18 days of massive protests, ending his 30-year presidency. Libya: Moammar Gadha was overthrown on Aug. 23, 2011, after the National Transitional Council (NTC) took control of Bab al-Azizia. He was killed on Oct. 20, 2011, in his hometown of Sirte after the NTC took control of the city.
OCT. 23 Start of democratic elections in Tunisia SEPT. OCT. SEPT. 23 President Saleh returns to Yemen OCT. 20 Gadha is captured and killed
QMI AGENCY

AUG. 21 Libyan rebels take the capital city Tripoli, but the Gadha family ees

JAN. 14 Tunisian President Ben Ali ees the country

MAY MAR. 19 NATO FEB. 15 Protests turn FEB. 11 intervenes in Resignation of violent in Libya after FEB. 25 Protests in support of Libyan Egypts Hosni the Gadha regime Iran, Iraq and Jordan insurgents responds with force Mubarak

AUG.

JUNE 3 Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is wounded in a bombing on his palace. The attack comes after widespread protests and the killing of hundreds of demonstrators.