ARAB UPRISING DETAILED TIMELINE

Tunisia – The Spark

Dec 17, 2010: Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor, self-immolates after harassment by police.

Dec 2010 – Jan 2011: Nationwide protests erupt against corruption, unemployment, and repression.

Jan 14, 2011: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali flees to Saudi Arabia after 23 years in power.

2011–2014: New constitution drafted; Tunisia holds free elections (Oct 2014).

Tunisia becomes the only Arab Spring democracy, though later political unrest resurfaces.

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Egypt – Tahrir Square Revolution

Jan 25, 2011: Protests start in Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez.

Feb 11, 2011: President Hosni Mubarak resigns after 30 years in power.

2012: Mohamed Morsi elected as the first democratically elected president.

2013: Military coup led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ousts Morsi.

2014–Present: Egypt returns to authoritarian rule under el-Sisi.

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Libya – Civil War & NATO Intervention

Feb 2011: Anti-Gaddafi protests escalate to armed rebellion.

March 2011: UN authorizes NATO military intervention.

Aug 2011: Rebels take Tripoli.

Oct 20, 2011: Gaddafi captured and killed in Sirte.

Post-2011: Libya descends into civil war; two rival governments form; ISIS gains foothold.

2015–Present: Ongoing chaos, foreign interventions, and instability.

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Yemen – Protests to Civil War

Jan 2011: Protests against Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule.

June 2011: Saleh injured in an assassination attempt, flees to Saudi Arabia.

Feb 2012: Saleh resigns; Vice President Hadi becomes president.

2014: Houthi rebels seize Sana’a.

2015–Present: Saudi-led coalition intervenes; Yemen faces a humanitarian catastrophe.

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Syria – Uprising Turns to Civil War

March 2011: Peaceful protests in Daraa met with violence by Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

2011–2012: Protests escalate into armed conflict.

2013: Chemical weapons attacks on civilians; international condemnation.

2014: ISIS rises, seizing large parts of Syria and Iraq.

2015–Present: Russia and Iran intervene in support of Assad.

Over 500,000 deaths; millions displaced.

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Bahrain – Suppressed Uprising

Feb 2011: Shia-majority protests demand reforms from Sunni monarchy.

March 2011: Saudi-led forces enter Bahrain; protests crushed.

Post-2011: Bahrain remains tightly controlled; opposition silenced.

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Other Countries

Jordan (2011): Protests push King Abdullah II to promise reforms; monarchy stays.

Morocco (2011): King Mohammed VI amends constitution, maintains power.

Algeria: Limited protests; later inspires 2019 Hirak movement.

Sudan: Inspired later uprisings; President Omar al-Bashir overthrown in 2019.

Saudi Arabia & Gulf States: Small protests crushed quickly; heavy crackdowns.

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Key Outcomes of the Arab Uprising

Country Leader Removed? Civil War? Current Status (2025)

Tunisia ✅ Ben Ali fled ❌ No Civil War Political unrest but democratic roots

Egypt ✅ Mubarak ousted ❌ No Civil War Military dictatorship under Sisi

Libya ✅ Gaddafi killed ✅ Yes Fragmented, unstable

Yemen ✅ Saleh ousted ✅ Yes Humanitarian disaster

Syria ❌ Assad stayed ✅ Yes Assad retains power, devastated country

Bahrain ❌ King remains ❌ No Civil War Suppressed dissent

Others ❌ Mostly same ❌ Mostly stable Minor reforms

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Summary Analysis

The Arab Spring inspired hope for democracy but resulted mostly in repression or chaos, except for Tunisia. It showed how deeply entrenched authoritarian regimes, weak institutions, and foreign interference make democratic transitions extremely hard.