Discontent and unrest have been breaking out across North Africa and the Middle East as economically-inspired protest movements, especially concerning unemployment and rising food costs, take life in response to on-going, unmitigated deprivation. In November 2010 in Laayoune, Western Sahara (administered by Morocco), rioters clashed with armed militias, resulting in approximately 10 deaths, in addition to dozens of injured. In December 2010, riots in protest of unemployment started in Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia, and are on-going and spreading to other cities. Likewise in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait, violence has been erupting around issues of deteriorating government services, unemployment, marginalisation, and shifting power dynamics since new year 2011. In all cases, the consequences, as well as the deprivation, are on-going. "This time around, the waves of discontent originated more often than not in underdeveloped rural areas rather than major urban centers, signaling discontent among more-traditional layers of society over shifts in power due to inequitable economic development."
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera dares to call out the EU and US for n
ot challenging the autocratic regimes to reform amidst rioting YET Al Jazeera is kowtowing to the regimes in Kuwait and Jordan by overlooking rioting in a similar vein occurring there, and in Syria to in reaction to minority rule.
*Background of unrest and protest movements
*Algeria
*Egypt
*Jordan
*Kuwait
*Libya
***UPDATE**Protests in North Africa and Middle East
*Morocco/Western Sahara
*Oman
***UPDATE**Protests in North Africa and Middle East
*Saudi Arabia
***UPDATE**Protests in North Africa and Middle East
*Sudan
***UPDATE**Protests in North Africa and Middle East
*Tunisia
So far the ONLY news source (really, information aggregator), that provides comprehensive information on the interconnection of the MENA riots is the NATO Civil-Military Fusion Centre (CFC) [Full disclosure: I work there]. For even more information about the riots, the region, and Civil-Military Cooperation, visit the CFC Mediterranean Basin page. You will need to register, and you can use my name as your sponsor.
2 comments:
Very informative, thank you. And thank you for the guest lecture last night. I was one of two geographers that wouldn't stop "participating".
Hey, thanks for visiting and reading. I am very gratified that you enjoyed the lecture! And I really appreciated your participation.
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