North Africa Includes the countries of: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Western Sahara

Political map of North Africa

Landforms Coastal Plains where North Africa meets the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean The Atlas Mountains run along the ocean from Morocco through Algeria ending in Tunisia

North Africa Today~ Arab Spring Tunisia Dec. 17, 2010~ Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire in protest of treatment he received from a government inspector Jan. 4, 2011~ Bouazizi dies: the movement against the government has gained a great deal of strength especially among the young people of Tunisia Zine el-Abidine has been the autocratic ruler of Tunisia for over 20 years

Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire Mohamed Bouazizi in the hospital just before he died from the burns that he inflicted on himself.

January 14, 2011~ Tunisian President Zine el- Abidine Ben Ali flees his country to Saudi Arabia The country’s prime minister announces that he is in charge and will organize new elections *President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011 *He assumed the Presidency on November 7, 1987 in a bloodless coup d’etat that ousted President Habib Bourquiba

On Trial June 20, 2011~ Zine el-Abidine goes on trial in absensia July 5, 2011~ Zine el-Abidine and his wife each are sentenced to 35 years in prison and fined $64 million in fines for embezzlement and other charges October 23, 2011~ Tunisia holds it first truly free elections in more than 30 years Voter turnout was 70% Islamists have won a majority of the legislative seats The new government will construct a new constitution

Egypt Hosni Mubarak had been the president of Egypt from 1981-2011 He has been accused of increasing the power of the government to an autocratic like rule Young Egyptians were encouraged by the protests in Tunisia and began protesting Mubarak early in 2011 Feb. 11, 2011~ Hosni Mubarak resigns after many days of refusing to leave office Protesting continues, some violently, throughout Egypt

Egypt cont’t Late spring~there are clashes throughout the country between Christians and Muslims Throughout the summer there are clashes, trials and uprisings in many of the large cities of Egypt Hundreds have died in the clashes since earlier in the year Egyptians call these people martyrs Mubarak is gone but as of right now there have not been any new elections The military is in control

Protesters in Egypt

Morocco Protests begin in February 2011 challenging the monarchy that they say has monopolized power The current king of Morocco is King Mohammed VI He is from the Alaouite Dynasty that has been in power since the 17th century The protesters are demanding a new constitution with more democracy In March, King Mohammed said he will revise the constitution June 2011~ more protesting a week before the constitution was to be voted on

Morocco con’t King Mohammed IV Parliamentary elections will take place on November 25, 2011 King Mohammed hopes that this will help bring calm to the country and help speed reforms that the citizens are wanting. King Mohammed IV

Libya Uprisings in Libya began on Feb. 16, 2011 to support Fathi Terbil Terbil is a lawyer in Libya who agreed to represent the families of inmates who were killed 15 years ago The Libyan government would not release the names of the inmates or their bodies to their families Terbil was arrested in February A group of lawyers and judges gathered in Benghazi at the courthouse to protest his arrest Soon the family members joined the protestors

Fathi Terbil Initial protest that lead to the overthrow of the Libyan tyrant Muammar Gaddafi

Libya, con’t These protests lead to a full blown rebellion of the Libyan people This protest set off months of protests throughout the eastern part of Libya The protests spread and soon NATO and the UN became involved in the Libyan rebels attempt to rid themselves of Gaddafi Rebel fighters and those loyal to Gaddafi fight for months throughout Libya Thousands of Libyans have lost their lives during this struggle

NATO forces along with the UN call for Gaddafi to leave the country He refuses and vows to fight to the end The end finally comes for Gaddafi on October 20,2011 In an attempt to flee the country, Gaddafi’s convoy was spotted trying to leave the city of Sirte The convoy was bombed and those who weren’t killed or hurt to badly tried to escape on foot Gaddafi was captured while he was hiding in a cement drainage pipe

It is not exactly clear on how Gaddafi died but he did die in the hands of the rebels and by gunshot wounds

Social media How do you think it played a role in the Arab Spring? Did it help insight the protests? How would the rest of the world find out about these events? Images of the protestors Images of the captured leaders Images of the dead leaders