Politics

Arab Spring Timeline (2010-2026): Countries and Legacy

The Arab Spring was a wave of uprisings that began in Tunisia on 17 December 2010. It toppled Ben Ali, Mubarak, Gaddafi and Saleh in 2011-12 and began the Syri…

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THE SPARK

A vendor's protest

Mohamed Bouazizi, a Tunisian street vendor, set himself on fire after officials seized his cart. He died on 4 Jan 2011.

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TUNISIA

Ben Ali flees

After 28 days of protest and an army that would not shoot, Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia after 23 years in power.

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EGYPT

Mubarak resigns

18 days of mass protest ended 29 years of Mubarak's rule. The army took over the transition.

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CRACKDOWN

Bahrain crushed, Syria rises

Gulf troops helped clear Bahrain's Pearl Roundabout; Syria fired on protesters in Daraa; the UN authorised force in Libya.

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LIBYA

Gaddafi killed

With NATO air support, rebels took Tripoli in August. Gaddafi was killed in October after 42 years in power.

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YEMEN

Saleh hands over

A Gulf-brokered plan gave Saleh immunity and his deputy Hadi the presidency after 33 years of Saleh's rule.

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EGYPT

The army removes Morsi

Its first freely elected president was ousted. At least 817 died when the Rabaa sit-in was cleared in August.

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WARS

Syria and Yemen widen

Houthis took Sanaa, a Saudi-led coalition entered Yemen, and Russia intervened for Assad in Syria.

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SECOND WAVE

Algeria and Sudan

Algeria's Hirak forced Bouteflika out on 2 April; Sudan's army removed Omar al-Bashir on 11 April.

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TUNISIA

Democracy reversed

President Kais Saied suspended parliament, ruled by decree and rewrote the constitution in 2022.

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SYRIA

Assad falls

An HTS-led offensive took Aleppo, Hama and Homs in days. Assad fled to Moscow, ending 54 years of family rule.

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NOW

Still unfinished

Syria is in a fragile transition, Yemen's war has reignited, Libya promises elections and Tunisians protest again.

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