The Next Egypt?

The world has erupted. Pro-democracy protests have spread faster than a forest fire engulfing nations that saw for decades oppression and corruption from authoritarian rulers.

While Tunisia ignited the torch, Egypt took it forward and President Hosni Mubarak's resignation gave the hope to millions of citizens worldwide that they too could bring about change in their country by simply believing in the power of the people's movement. 

The world looks on as Egypt celebrates its victory today with two million people in Tahrir Square (in pic above), the people's seat that toppled the President. While the mood was festive, Egyptians do realize they have a long way to go to get the military to honour its promises and deliver change.

But following Egypt's historic victory against its oppresive regime, hundreds and thousands took to the streets in their own countries. The respective governments too stepped up opposition and, unlike Egypt, turned the police and army against the people. 


While for many countries achieving Egypt's success in such a short span of time might be difficult, I believe Bahrain. Libya and Yemen would be at the forefront of demanding change and will unfortunately see much more violence than Egypt. 

While Bahrain may see days of comparatively peaceful protests next week with sporadic incidences of violence, Libya will definitely erupt and see much more violence over the weekend. Yemen is just finding its feet in pro democracy protests and though Saleh has taken a backstep by offering to step down at the end of the term, Yeminis will not be satisfied until they see him leave soon.

Bahrain - Burning in Protests

Bahrain is seeing one of the most violent protests of the recent days. The people from this  tiny country in the Gulf have decided to stand up against the monarchy and are demanding a more equal and just society. 

About 70 percent of Bahrain's citizens are Shiite Muslims. Though Bahrain is one of the few Gulf nation's with a popularly elected parliament, the main powers still rest in the hands of the Sunni monarchy which decides important political and military posts.

So protesters have taken to the streets demanding an end to these powers of the monarchy. Clashes and protests have occurred sporadically over the past few days. Security forces in Bahrain have dispersed thousands of anti-government protesters in Pearl Square in the centre of the capital, Manama using tear gas and batons. There are now police with tanks reported on some streets. Bahraini security forces have also opened fire on anti-government protesters killing an injuring many.

The heavy police and military presence in the capital Manama is ensuring that more protesters are not allowed entry in the capital. Funerals of those killed in the clashes are taking place across the country.

Amnesty International has strongly condemned these acts of violence by the state. 'Respect for human rights in Bahrain has deteriorated significantly in the past year in the face of growing anti-government sentiment and violent protests,' it says in its latest report 'Crackdown in Bahrain: Human Rights at the Crossroads', which speaks about gross human rights violations by the Bahraini government.

Libya - Day of Rage

Libya's 'Day of Rage' found snipers fire at protesters from rooftops. The longest ruling dictator Col. Maummar al-Gaddafi's left no stone unturned to turn his rage on the people protesting against his rule. 

His regime turned its helicopter gunships and snipers on protesters, killing and injuring many of them. According to Human Rights Watch at least 24 people have been killed by Libyan security forces though officially Libya has issued no casualty figures.

Reports on social network sites say up to 50 people have been killed in protests in several Libyan cities. Libyan are flocking to facebook and twitter to join the anti-government movement

The protestors refuse to succumb and are first concentrating on towns that have weaker support for Gaddafi like in the east, including its second largest city, Benghazi. The area is largely cut-off from international media.

Also mobile phone networks in Libya are now being used by the regime for sending messages from 'the youth of Libya' warning against crossing 'four red lines: Maummar Gadhafi, territorial integrity, Islam and internal security'.

Although the European Union has urged Libyan authorities to allow free expression and listen to what the protesters have to say, the Libyan leader believes in pretending that discontent doesn't exist in Libya. Gaddafi says Libyans enjoy 'true democracy'.

So while his country is burning in other parts, he decides to put a show of strength. State television showed several hundred pro-government supporters holding a rally in Tripoli's Green Square before dawn. As Gaddafi arrived, he stood up through the sunroof of his limousine and waved to the crowd.

The Gaddafi family's billionaire lifestyle and playboy reputation is a liability in a region where unemployment and corruption are widespread. The protesters demand political freedoms, respect for human rights and an end to corruption and are refusing to bow down. 

Yemen - 'Friday of Rage'

Riots have flared up in Yemen after eight days of protests where protesters are calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. A key US ally and a ruler for 32 years, Saleh is already facing threats from al Qaida militants who want him out, a southern secessionist movement and an erratic armed rebellion in the north.

Facebook and twitter were used to garner support for the 'Friday of Rage' and tens of thousands responded in the capital Sanaa, Aden and Taiz. Anti-government demonstrators clashed with supporters of Saleh and police, who fired tear gas and shots in the air to disperse the crowd. 

In the city of Taiz, a hand grenade was allegedly thrown at a group of protesters causing a blast and a stampede. Riots also flared up in the southern port of Aden where cars and a local government building were set ablaze.

Eyewitnesses in Sana’a told Amnesty International that they had been surrounded and attacked by security forces and 'thugs'.“We are trying to hide but the security forces are pointing out our locations to the thugs. We are very scared, particularly because there are children with us. We’ve tried to get the children out of the area but the security forces have not allowed us to do so,” one activist told Amnesty International today.

The Arab world finds its voice

First Tunisia, now Egypt, will the Arab world finally see democracy? It’s perhaps too early to predict a true democracy in these countries. However what is evident is that the people have finally found their voice and it’s now loud enough to not just to penetrate the thick walls of the Presidential mansions but also shake its foundations.

We have heard every politician talk about change yet once in power the status quo continues. But now, people have decided to take power in their hands and bring about the change for real. And millions of people are taking to the streets in largely peaceful demonstrations to raise their voice for the basic economic security– growth, employment, education, control on inflation and affordable food. But they have now realized that the only way to get these would be to speak from some sort of political platform – and the idea of democracy looks perfect. Hence the demand for political reforms.

After the revolution, Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled his country and it gave people elsewhere a hope. Now Egypt’s president Hoshi Mubarak has promised to step down at the end of term in September. This made the hope stronger.

The protesters in Egypt are not too happy to wait and believe they may be able to force Mubarak to leave now. While clashes continue on the streets of Cairo, the world sits watching transfixed. Everyone knows the Arab world would never be the same again.

Meanwhile fearing a similar revolution both Jordan and Yemen took pre-emptive measures to stop the initial protests from turning into a mass revolution.

Jordan: ‘Increase popular participation in the decision-making’

On February 1, King Abdullah of Jordan dismissed his cabinet and appointed a new prime minister "to take practical, quick and tangible steps to launch true political reforms, enhance Jordan's democratic drive and ensure safe and decent living for all Jordanians".

The government recently announced a £78m ($125m) package to reduce prices, as well as measures to boost salaries, in an attempt to ease the protests. However the opposition, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), said it did not welcome PM Marouf Bakhit appointment. However, there still seems to be respect in the opposition for King Abdullah.

The Palace reciprocated this sentiment by promising more people’s participation in decision making. “Reform was a "necessity to provide a better life for our people, but we won't be able to attain that without real political reforms, which must increase popular participation in the decision-making", the statement from the palace. 

Yemen: ‘No extension, no inheritance, no resetting the clock’

Unlike Jordon, people in Yemen strongly want the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for 32 years. Fearing backlash,  Saleh on February 2, announced that he would neither seek another term nor hand over his seat to his son. With a bold statement, "No extension, no inheritance, no resetting the clock," Saleh hoped to disperse his protesters but they went ahead with their so called 'day of rage' which was very peaceful compared to clashes in Egypt.

Like Jordon’s king, Saleh too came up with an economic package that he hoped would calm his protesters. He put a control on basic commodity prices and cut income tax in half. To ensure loyalty from the security forces and his men, Saleh doubled the salaries of state employee and armed forces personnel. However, it hasn’t been enough to suppress the agitated sentiments of his people.

Today Sana'a sees some of the biggest anti-government protests against Saleh (even though yesterday he asked for a freeze on all planned protests). Other cities in Yemen too joined in the protests. 

In step – Algeria, Libya and Morocco 


Governments of Algeria, Libya and Morocco can feel the tremors of the revolution and are strengthening their stand by offering economic concessions.

In Algeria, although public demonstrations are banned in the capital Algiers, following Tunisia, there were public protests in many parts of Algeria including the capital. Several opposition groups in Algeria have called for mass protests in the Algiers on Saturday February 12. On the agenda apart from lifting the emergency is the end to the regime of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and bringing political and economic reforms. Algeria has seen one of the worst civil wars in the world and the public are wary of a repetition, yet the growing momentum in the region is helping the mobilization of people to demand change.

Morocco, like Tunisia, saw the Royal family ‘exposed’ by Wikileaks. King Mohammed VI inner circle were embroiled in allegations of increased corruption. However, Morocco has so far managed to keep protests under control.


A quick announcement last week by the authorities that they would maintain subsidies on basic necessities like flour, sugar, cooking oil and butane gas to stop costs rising in line with world prices was an attempt to nip any uprising in the bud. However opposition to the Royal family is slowly mobilizing.

Libya has seen one of the most autocratic rulers for over four decades Col Muamman Gaddafi emphatically supported Tunisia’s Ben Ali. One of the strictest countries to tolerate any kind of protests, Libya has in recent days seen some unrest in Benghazi in the east. The government quickly took pre-emptive steps and announced increased spending on public housing to discourage people from protesting.


However, a website (now banned by the government) began promoting protests on February 17, anniversary of previous ‘intifada’.


Syria takes the revolution on Face book 

The Baath party has been in power in Syria since it passed a 1963 emergency law banning all opposition groups. President Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000 after the death of his father Hafez. Although his tough stance against Israel has earned him popularity; the growing economic disparity and rising poverty coupled with unemployment and corruption in the country has turned the people against the government.


While the government claims Syria is immune to an uprising, Syrian activists are calling for ‘a day of rage’ on Friday after prayers on Face book which is officially banned in Syria. Another Face book group has called for a peaceful '2011 Syrian revolution' to end Syria's 'monocracy, corruption and tyranny.'

The next few days will be crucial and could create history.