The Arab Spring - Understanding the Revolutions
The revolution in the Arab world unfolded exquisitely but with dramatic repercussions. High unemployment rates, the oppression of political freedoms, and the overwhelming presence of corruption led to a rise in unrest amongst many in the Arab world -- which set off a domino effect amongst states in a fight for democracy at home. It all began in Tunisia in December 2010, and quickly escalated into a campaign for change that would reach across the region, and move the world. By the time the conflict reached a boiling point -- governments in Egypt, Libya and Yemen would also be ousted in an uprising that would make history. What couldn’t be predicted however, were the various means to which the conflict would culminate for the dictators themselves.
In Tunisia, the outcome followed suit with others that had come before it in other parts of the world -- Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the President who is said to have ruled with an “iron fist” fled the country with his family and sought refuge in Saudi Arabia. It seems as though he knew what was coming, and simply bought himself time with his empty promises of elections and the dissolution of his government. A state of emergency was declared by Ben Ali, and he went into panic mode. What he didn’t see coming, was the massive discontent that plagued the Tunisian people -- who weren’t buying his stall tactics. A military court in Tunisia found Ben Ali guilty on multiple charges, which included murder, money laundering and drug trafficking. An International arrest warrant went out for the extradition of Ben Ali and his wife from Saudi Arabia -- but the request has not been acknowledged by Saudi authorities.
With the protests escalating in Tunisia, Libyan President Muammar Gadaffi condemned the Tunisians for speaking out, and claimed he was “pained” by the inevitable fall of the government. It took less than a month for the Libyan people to begin protesting Gadaffi’s regime, a move that would turn the nation upside down
In Tunisia, the outcome followed suit with others that had come before it in other parts of the world -- Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the President who is said to have ruled with an “iron fist” fled the country with his family and sought refuge in Saudi Arabia. It seems as though he knew what was coming, and simply bought himself time with his empty promises of elections and the dissolution of his government. A state of emergency was declared by Ben Ali, and he went into panic mode. What he didn’t see coming, was the massive discontent that plagued the Tunisian people -- who weren’t buying his stall tactics. A military court in Tunisia found Ben Ali guilty on multiple charges, which included murder, money laundering and drug trafficking. An International arrest warrant went out for the extradition of Ben Ali and his wife from Saudi Arabia -- but the request has not been acknowledged by Saudi authorities.
With the protests escalating in Tunisia, Libyan President Muammar Gadaffi condemned the Tunisians for speaking out, and claimed he was “pained” by the inevitable fall of the government. It took less than a month for the Libyan people to begin protesting Gadaffi’s regime, a move that would turn the nation upside down