Arab Spring/Addendum

Arab national movements

Algeria

(Note CPI denotes the Corruption Protection Index, which ranges from 0 for highly corrupt to 10 for totally transparent.)

(Population 35m, 99% Sunni Muslim CPI 2010 : 2.9, unemployment rate: 9.9%, GDP/head: $7,300)
The protests and strikes in January were mainly about living standards and corruption. President Bouteflika responded with cuts in food prices. Protests continued in some localities

Bahrain

(Population 1.2 m, 81% Muslim, CPI 2010 : 4.9, unemployment rate: 3.6%, GDP/head: $40,300)
Problems exist between Sunni leadership and a Shi'ite majority. The matter is of deep concern for Saudi Arabia, concerned with both its own Shi'ite minority, and concerns about Iranian expansion.

Egypt

(Population 82m, 90% Muslim, CPI 2010 :3.1, unemployment rate: 9.7%, GDP/head: $6,200)
Protests ended the 30-year presidency of Hosni Mubarak, replaced by a military council that has promised a transition to democracy. Protests continue.

Jordan

(Population 6.5m, 92% Muslim, CPI 2010 :4.7, unemployment rate: 13.4%, GDP/head: $5,400)
King Abdullah respnded to the mainly peaceful protests by sacking his Cabinet and appointing a new Prime Minister. There have since been few protests.

Lebanon

(Population 4m, 60% Muslim, 39% Christian, CPI 2010 :2.5, unemployment rate:9.2 %, GDP/head: $14,400)
The January protests were against Hezbollah's attempt to take over the country's government.

Libya

(Population 6.6m, 97% Muslim, CPI 2010 :2.3, unemployment rate: 20.7%, GDP/head: $14,000)
The protests developed into a major civil war with over 10,000 casualties, in which the rebels were supported with NATO supplies and airstrikes. The rebel National Transitional Council has been recognised as the legitimate representative of the Libyan peoplw by the UA and the UK.

Morocco

(Population 40m, 99% Muslim, CPI 2010 :3.4, unemployment rate:9.8%, GDP/head: $4,800)

Oman

(Population 3m, 75% Muslim, CPI 2010 :5.3, unemployment rate: 15%, GDP/head: $23,600)

Saudi Arabia

(Population 26m, 100% Muslim, CPI 2010 :4.7, unemployment rate: 10.8%, GDP/head: $24,200)

Syria

(Population 23m, 90% Muslim, CPI 2010 :2.5, unemployment rate: 8.3%, GDP/head: $4,800)
Syrian security forces have fired on unarmed protesters, possibly killing as many as 1,000 of them. President Bashir al-Assad, however, repealed a long-standing and unpopular Emergency Law.

Tunisia

(Population 10.6m, 98% Muslim, CPI 2010 :4.3, unemployment rate: 14%, GDP/head: $9,400)
Protesters have forced the resignation of President Zine al-Abidine Mebazaa, and elections have been scheduled for October 2011.

Yemen

(Population 24m, 99% Muslim, CPI 2010 :2.2, unemployment rate: 35%, GDP/head: $2,700)
Protests have been about unemployment, malnutrion and corruption. President Saleh is in hospital in Saudi Arabia, having been injured by a rocket.