Arab Spring/Addendum

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This addendum is a continuation of the article Arab Spring.

Key
[OE] denotes oil economy
[MOE] denotes mixed oil economy
[DE] denotes diversified economy
[PEE] denotes primary exporting economy
CPI denotes the Corruption Protection Index[1], which ranges from 0 for highly corrupt to 10 for totally transparent.
DI denotes Democracy Index [2] which ranges from 0 for totalitarian to 10 for fully democratic.
GI denotes Gini index which is a number between 0 and 100 reflecting the degree of inequality of family income[3].
GDP/head figures are at purchasing power parity exchange rates using CIA World Factbook figures[4].


Notes are available on the persona mentioned below.


Arab national movements

(Situation on 1 October 2011}

Algeria

([MOE], Population 35m, 99% Sunni Muslim CPI 2010: 2.9, DI 2010: 3.4, unemployment rate: 9.9%, GDP/head: $7,300), OPEC member country profile
The protests and strikes in January 2011 and after were mainly about living standards and corruption. President Bouteflika responded with cuts in food prices, and a promise to review the constitution. On 16 April, he announced that a commission would be created to draw up amendments to the constitution in order to make it more democratic. In September he announced reforms to permit the operation of private radio and television stations.

Bahrain

([OE], Population 1.2 m, 81% Muslim, CPI 2010: 4.9, DI 2010: 3.5, unemployment rate: 3.6%, GDP/head: $40,300) (BBC country profile)
A constitutional monarchy with an elected legislative assembly. Majority Shi'ites are demanding more power from Sunni-led government. Protest movements have been crushed by force, [5], and the treatment of human rights protestors was the subject of an adverse report by the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights[6]

Egypt

([DE], Population 82m, 90% Muslim, CPI 2010: 3.1, DI 2010: 3.1,unemployment rate: 9.7%, GDP/head: $6,200)
In February 2011 mass protests, during which at least 846 people were killed, ended the 30-year presidency of Hosni Mubarak, and he was replaced by the "Supreme Council of the Armed Forces" (SCAF)[7] that has promised a transition to democracy [8]. Protests continued as a result of tension between the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the youth movements that launched the January 25th Tahrir Square uprising [9], and in July there was a mass demonstration, organised by the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, calling for an Islamic state and Sharia law[10]. Parliamentary elections are due to take place in three stages between November 2011 and January 2012, and a presidential election is expected to take place in March or April 2012. The elections are expected to be contested by scores of political parties that are grouped into four alliances[11] and there is expected to be a struggle for power between the country's secularists and its islamists[9]

Jordan

([DE], Population 6.5m, 92% Muslim, CPI 2010:4.7, DI 2010: 3.7, GI: 38, unemployment rate: 13.4%, GDP/head: $5,400)
King Abdullah responded to the mainly peaceful protests by sacking his Cabinet and appointing a new Prime Minister. A powerful Islamist opposition group, the Islamic Action Front[12] has called for the dissolution of parliament and has criticised the king's efforts to initiate reform.

Lebanon

([DE], Population 4m, 60% Muslim, 39% Christian, CPI 2010: 2.5,DI 2010: 5.8, unemployment rate:9.2 %, GDP/head: $14,400)
The January protests were against Hezbollah's attempt to take over the country's government.

Libya

([MOE], Population 6.6m, 97% Muslim, CPI 2010: 2.3, DI 2010: 1.9, GI: 36, unemployment rate: 20.7%, GDP/head: $14,000), OPEC member

The protests developed into a major civil war with over 10,000 casualties, in which the rebels were supported with NATO supplies and airstrikes. Libya's complex tribal structure is said to play a crucial role in its politics and now in the pro-democracy opposition movement[13]. The rebel National Transitional Council has been recognised as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people by the USA, France and the UK. (See also Civil war in Libya). The civil war ended with the death of Gadaffi on 12th Octber 2011.

Morocco

([DE], Population 40m, 99% Muslim, CPI 2010: 3.4, DI 2010: 3.8, unemployment rate:9.8%, GDP/head: $4,800)
Protests have been mainly peaceful, and the response of the security forces has been generally moderate. Constitutional changes were introduced in July 2011 that reduce King Mohammed's near-absolute powers and name a prime minister from the largest party elected to parliament. as head of the executive branch. They were rejected as inadequate by the "February 20" protest movement[14].

Oman

([OE], Population 3m, 75% Muslim, CPI 2010: 5.3,DI 2010: 2.9, unemployment rate: 15%, GDP/head: $23,600)
There were protests in March 2011 over unemployment, food prices and corruption. The Sultan responded by promising to give legislative powers to Oman's parliament.

Saudi Arabia

([OE], Population 26m, 100% Muslim, CPI 2010: 4.7, DI 2010: 1.8, GI: 32, unemployment rate: 10.8%, GDP/head: $24,200), OPEC member
Protests have been few and local, confined to Shi'ite areas in the east. There have been no mass pro-democracy protests and opposition movements are banned. In September 2011 the King announced that women are to be allowed to vote and to become members of the Advisory Council[15].

Syria

([DE], Population 23m, 90% Muslim, CPI 2010: 2.5, DI 2010: 2.3, unemployment rate: 8.3%, GDP/head: $4,800)
Syrian security forces have fired on unarmed protesters and about 2,600 civilians have been killed, according to United Nations estimates. A report by representatives of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights has called upon the government to "immediately put an end to the gross human rights violations, including the excessive use of force against demonstrators and the killing of protestors, torture and ill-treatment of detainees and enforced disappearances; halt violations of economic, social and cultural rights"[16]. A group of Syrian activists have formed a "Syrian National Council" representing a united front in opposition to President Bashar al-Assad[17]. The Assad government is being supported by Iran and Iraq[18]

Tunisia

([DE], Population 10.6m, 98% Muslim, CPI 2010: 4.3, DI 2010: 2.8,unemployment rate: 14%, GDP/head: $9,400)
Protests, in the course of which around 300 people died, forced the resignation of President Zine al-Abidine Mebazaa, and elections have been scheduled for October 2011 after several delays. The political police and state security apparatus, which were blamed for many human rights abuses, have been disbanded. The outlawed Islamist party, Ennahda (otherwise Hizb al-Nahda), has been legalised, and is predicted to win about a quarter of the vote in the October elections, which would give it a strong influence on the drafting of the new constitution[19][20]. Despite Islamic connections, it campaigns for democratic governance, and does not seek to impose Sharia law. (Their adoption as a candidate of the female Suad Abdel-Rahim, who does not wear a veil may be an indication of their moderation in other respects[21].)

Yemen

([PEE],Population 24m, 99% Muslim, CPI 2010: 2.2, DI 2010: 2.6, unemployment rate: 35%, GDP/head: $2,700)
The Yemeni uprising in January 2011 took the form of peaceful protests about unemployment, malnutrion and corruption, but it was violently repulsed by the country's armed forces, and hundreds were killed. A bitter power struggle also developed between the president's clan and their rivals, the Bani al-Ahmar[22]. An incident in March, when 53 peaceful demonstrators were killed, led to the resignation of a number of Ministers, Ambassadors and other members of the ruling party, and the defection of General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar (who promised to use his armoured brigade troops to protect the demonstrators). In August 2011, President Saleh promised to step down and to hold free and direct elections in 2013[2], but the demonstrations continued. In September 2011, a United Nations mission reported that protesters were trying to preserve the peaceful character of their demonstrations, but were being met with the excessive and disproportionate use of lethal force. The mission considered that the growing activity of "armed elements" among the demonstrators presented the danger of a cycle of escalating violence[23].

The international response

The United Nations

On February 2011, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1970 [24], imposing an arms embargo on Libya and freezing the assets of its leaders. On March 17, it adopted resolution 1973 (2011) by a vote of 10 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions (Brazil, China, Germany, India, Russian Federation), authorising Member States, "to take all necessary measures to protect civilians under threat of attack in the country, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory" [25].

The European Union

The European Commission has made available EUR €30 million for humanitarian aid in Libya and to refugees at the Tunisian and Egyptian borders. The EU has also offered Arab Countries "Partnerships for Democracy and Shared Prosperity” conditinal upon evidence of concrete progress toward the establishment of democracy, human rights, social justice, good governance and the rule of law [26]. France and Britain have taken major parts in the NATO intervention in Libya which, however has been opposed by Italy [27] and Germany [28].

NATO

On March 27 2011, NATO decided to take on the whole military operation in Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. The stated purpose of Operation Unified Protector was "to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under threat of attack[29]." Of the its 28 members, 14 took military action in support of the uprising, 8[30] of which took part in ground attacks.

USA

On 17 May 2011, President Obama announced a new chapter in American diplomacy. In addition to the pursuit of existing policy objectives, such as countering terrorism, it would be be the policy of the United States to promote reform across the region, and to support transitions to democracy. But, noting that the people themselves who had launched the protest movements, he emphasised that it should be "the people themselves that must ultimately determine their outcome"[31]. A CNN/Opinion Research Poll indicated approval by a majority of Americans as well as opposition by a substantial minority[32].

Russia

On 7 March Russian foreign minister Serghei Lavrov stressed Moscow's opposition to military intervention in Libya: "we don't see how any form of external intervention could possibly solve the Libyan crisis, especially if it were military in nature. Libyans need to solve their own problems.[33]

References

  1. Corruption Perception :Index[1]
  2. The Democracy Index 2010, Economist Intelligence Unit
  3. Global Peace Index 2010
  4. Country Comparison, GDP per Capita (PPP), CIA World Factbook July 2011
  5. Popular Protests in North Africa and the Middle East (III): The Bahrain Revolt, International Crisis Group, 6 April 2011, MENA Report No. 105
  6. Briefing Note June 2010: Bahrain, Yemen, Sudan, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
  7. Who is in Egypt's High Military Council? , International Business Times, February 11, 2011
  8. Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Constitutional Declaration Carnegie Endowment, 2011
  9. 9.0 9.1 Khaled Elgindy: Egypt’s Transition Six Months On: From Diversity to Divisiveness,The Brookings Institution, 1 September 2011
  10. Egypt uprising: Islamists lead Tahrir Square rally, BBC News, 28 July 2011
  11. Political Parties, Carnegie Endowment's guide to Egypt's transition, October 2011
  12. Islamic Action Front Party, Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, 2011
  13. Navigating Libya's tribal maze, Al Jazeera, 23 February 2011
  14. Morrocans for Change website
  15. Saudi women given voting rights, Al Jazeera, 26 September 2011
  16. Report of the Fact-Finding Mission on Syria pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-16/1, June 2011
  17. Syrian opposition unites in new council, Al Jazeera, September 15 2011
  18. Joby Warrick, Iraq, siding with Iran, sends essential aid to Syria’s Assad, Washington Post, October 9 2011
  19. Q&A: Tunisia elections, BBC News 11 October 2011
  20. Larbi Sadiki: The real significance of Tunisia's election, al-Jazeera, 23 Oct 2011
  21. Abdelaziz Boumzar: Ennahda candidate defies female stereotype in Tunisia vote, Reuters, 20 October 2011
  22. Frank Gardner: Arab Spring: Where it is now and where it may be going, BBC News 10 July 2011
  23. Report of the High Commissioner on OHCHR’s visit to Yemen, United Nations Human Rights Council, Eighteenth session 13 September 2011
  24. Security Council imposes sanctions on Libyan authorities in bid to stem violent repression, UN News Centre, 26 February 2011
  25. Security Council Approves No Fly Zone over Libya
  26. A Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean, Joint Communication to The European Council, The European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, European Commission, 8 March, 2011
  27. Italy opposes military intervention in Libya.Digital Journal, 16 March 2011
  28. Luke Harding: Germany won't send forces to Libya, foreign minister declares, Guardian, 17 March 2011
  29. NATO and Libya, NATO press office 10 July 2011
  30. France, the UK, the US, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Italy and Canada
  31. Obama’s Mideast Speech, New York Times, May 19, 2011
  32. CNN/Opinion Research Poll – March 18-20 – Libya.
  33. Ljubica Vujadinovic: Moscow says “No” to foreign military intervention in Libya, ALLVOICES, 7 March 2011