The Arab World Is Headed For Another Arab Spring
On 18 December, 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in Tunisia set the Arab Spring in motion. His death was the catalyst for one of the most defining movements in global politics. In the years following, numerous countries in the Arab world forced their governments from power and countless more would experience mass protests and civil unrest. Almost universally, people in the Arab world were discontent with the heavy-handedness of the government and the poor living conditions.
In 2020, A similar set of circumstances besets the Arab world. In the past two years, it has been dotted with mass protests and government crackdowns that ring eerily similar to events nearly a decade ago. Tensions between the people and the government are increasing, and the ever-increasing presence of smartphones and social media have made organizing demonstrations even easier. Social media and online messaging apps were instrumental in the Arab Spring. Numerous nations throughout the Arab world are seeing a similar trend of civil disobedience and demonstration, in an ever-evolving attempt to restore stability and peace.
Iraq
In Iraq, anti-government protests have broken out across the country in response to low wages, lack of access to healthcare and education, and poverty, despite the country’s vast oil wealth. Anti-government protesters in Iraq blame the political elite of the country for the poor economic condition and mismanagement of the country, a common sentiment throughout the Arab world. According to Reuters, these protests make up the largest political demonstrations in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Economically and socially, the country is still recovering from the effects of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the rise of the Islamic State following their withdrawal. In response to widespread civil unrest, Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi resigned in November 2019, but is still occupying the role until a full time replacement is chosen.
Egypt
After the coup d’etat that ousted Mohamed Morsi, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power in Egypt, dissolved the constitution, and enacted policies of censorship and strong-arm leadership that have been compared to the tactics of previous dictators in Egypt by Foreign Policy. Widespread condemnation of el-Sisi, combined with charges of corruption, brought about demonstrations throughout the country in September 2019. As the movement began to gain momentum, the government enacted a short block on online messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, as well as the BBC. To counter the very public disdain for el-Sisi, the National Security Agency (the domestic intelligence service of Egypt) organized pro el-Sisi rallies, and made attendance by government employees and officials virtually mandatory. Over 4300 people were arrested according to a European Parliament report, with 111 being minors. The detained included journalists, political activists, and academics who are critical of the el-Sisi regime. At the end of December 2019, the Egyptian Consensus Document was released, demanding a more democratic rule in Egypt. As of January 2020, the Egyptian National Action Group is campaigning to end military rule in the country, and many of those detained during the September protests are still in prison.
Lebanon
Unrest in Lebanon started in October 2019, when the government proposed a tax on products such as gasoline, tobacco, and online phone call services. This proposed taxation led to a wider national conversation about corruption and mismanagement of the government, sparking protests and calls for Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign. An interesting note is that unlike previous protests in Lebanon, the current string of protests has crossed sectarian lines, and has seen the many religious sects of Lebanon standing together against the perceived corruption. On January 21, 2020. Hariri announced his resignation as Prime Minister of Lebanon.
Sudan
After the 2019 coup that ousted Omar al-Bashir from power in Sudan, multiple protests have continued surrounding human rights abuses and corruption in Sudan. Post-coup protests in Sudan have centered around issues such as women’s rights, the killing of civilians by paramilitary forces, pollution due to the mining industry, and other social issues. Of particular note is that one of the protests was in response to the detention of Walid Abdelrahman Hassan, a Sudanese student, in Cairo during the civil unrest there. Hassan was an anti-Islamist activist who was arrested in Sudan several times for participating in anti-regime protests, according to The Middle East Eye. Hassan, who had moved to Cairo to study German, made a public confession on MBC Masr announcing support for the Muslim Brotherhood. His friends and family claim that this confession was made under duress, based on his past criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan. Hassan was freed in October.
Conclusion
The events over the past few months have highlighted a geopolitical situation that is tragically similar to the ones leading up to the Arab Spring in 2010. Throughout the region citizens face unemployment, oppressive governments, failing social systems, and frustration over their inability to change the status quo. The mass protests and revolutions that took place nearly ten years ago, with the hope of ushering in a new future, are echoed in the streets of Baghdad, Cairo, Khartoum, and Beirut. Although the implications of a second Arab Spring are unknown, it is clear that the people of the Arab World are not content with continually being mistreated and ignored by their leaders.
