What is the Arab Spring, and how did it start?

From the fall of long-standing authoritarian regimes to the suppression of uprisings, these are the pivotal dates and events that define the Arab Spring.

The Tunisian Spark

On 17 December 2010, a young Tunisian vegetable vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire to protest police harassment and economic hardship. Bouazizi's death on 4 January 2011, became a catalyst for nationwide protests against the high cost of living and authoritarian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime, reports Al Jazeera. 

Ten days after Bouazizi's death, Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia, ending his 23-year rule. 

His ousting marked the first time an Arab leader was overthrown by popular protests, inspiring a wave of uprisings across the Arab world against authoritarianism, corruption, and poverty.

'Mubarak Out!'

On 25 January 2011, Egyptians began mass protests in Cairo, Alexandria, and other cities, demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who had ruled for 30 years.

After 18 days of protests, Mubarak stepped down on 11 February 2011, handing control to the military. 

Egypt saw the rise of Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood-linked government in 2012, only for it to be ousted a year later by the military, led by then-General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who now serves as president.

Bahrain's 'Tahrir'

On 15 February 2011, demonstrators occupied Pearl Square in Bahrain's capital, calling for a constitutional monarchy and other reforms. They renamed the site "Tahrir Square."

Three days later, riot police violently dispersed the protesters, leaving three dead and many injured.

Libya

On the same day as Bahrain's protests, Libyan police forcefully broke up a sit-in against Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Benghazi. Gaddafi responded by vowing to hunt down the "rats" opposing him.

The uprising spiralled into a civil war, with international intervention from French, British, and American forces. On 20 October 2011, Gaddafi was captured and killed by rebels in his hometown of Sirte.

Since then, Libya has remained fragmented, split between rival administrations based in the east and west.

Syria 

Inspired by uprisings elsewhere, protests against President Bashar al-Assad began in Syria but soon escalated into a brutal civil war. Opposition forces briefly claimed victory, with Damascus reportedly "freed of Assad" in December 2011, according to rebel declarations.

Assad's regime held on, largely due to the support of Russia and Iran. Russian airstrikes, starting on 30 September, 2015, shifted the war in Assad's favor.

However, on 8 December 2024, Syria's army command notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad's rule ended following a lightning rebel offensive, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters.

Syrian rebels said Damascus was "now free of Assad".

Tunisia's first election

On 23 October 2011, Tunisians voted in their first free election. The Ennahdha movement, a moderate Islamist party, emerged victorious, marking a milestone in Tunisia's transition to democracy.

Yemen's Saleh goes

On 27 February 2012, Yemen's long-time leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh, handed power to his deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, after 33 years in power and a year of protests.

However, Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, soon descended into violent conflict, which persists to this day.