Topic: Ben Ali

Why Arab leaders are largely silent on Syria's brutal crackdown

Arab leaders put aside the creed of Arab unity to speak out against Libya's Qaddafi. But they are far more wary of Syria, whose Assad regime is a much more influential player.

Africa Monitor
Is Compaore's reign in Burkina Faso coming to an end?

Burkina Faso's President Compaore is seeing new protests against his regime in Western Africa that may finally be sweeping him out of power.

In a changed Tunisia, dismay over an unchanged media

Many Tunisians who supported the revolution are dismayed by the continued presence of print and TV reporters who never challenged the status quo under former President Ben Ali.

The deep roots of Libya's psychology of violence

For more than four decades, Libya's self-declared 'Brother Leader,' Muammar Qaddafi, has waged a brutal form of psychological warfare against his own people, analysts say. Rebel forces have also been shaped by that violent history.

Tunisia's PM Ghannouchi quits amid new protests for real change

Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi’s resigned Sunday, showing that Tunisian protesters won't stop until their revolution brings the change they demand.

Backchannels
Qaddafi speech: I can't resign since I'm not president

Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi's speech was a signature rambling statement. He said he would continue to fight the nationwide revolt against his 41-year rule.

Backchannels
Bahrain cracks down hard, breaking from Egypt's model

Bahrain and Libya, too, are upping the ante of repression in a way Tunisia and Egypt did not. Will it work?

South Africa's now-neutral stance on Ivory Coast infuriates president-elect's camp

South African President Jacob Zuma is set to go to Ivory Coast this weekend in a bid to negotiate a powersharing agreement that will pull the country back from the brink of another civil war.

Hosni Mubarak's exit plan: Where do exiled leaders go?

With Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak heading out of office, it’s likely he has thought about where he’d head next if he’s forced out of the country as well as the presidency. Read our list of ousted world leaders who fled their countries to live out the rest of their days elsewhere.

Can Obama maintain his Egypt tightrope act?

President Obama is trying to balance transition and stability in Egypt, but events in Cairo may make that impossible.

Africa Monitor
How revolt in Egypt, Tunisia plays in South Africa

As the number of young people in South Africa increases and access to the Internet improves, so too will access to the kind of resistance we’re witnessing in Egypt and Tunisia, writes guest blogger Khadija Patel.

Backchannels
Live blogging the Egyptian uprising

Long time observers of Egypt are fast running out of adjectives to describe their feelings about unfolding events. Unprecedented, stunning, transfixing. I lived there from 2003 to 2008 and dearly love the country. I'll be posting short updates here throughout the day (Friday, Jan. 28) on the fast-moving events in Egypt. This is my first go at this kind of thing, so bear with me.

Are Yemen's protests going to bring another revolution?

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Yemen's capital of Sanaa. But they appear to be pushing democratic reforms more than Tunisia-style revolution.

Backchannels
Inspired by Tunisia, Egypt's protests appear unprecedented

Egypt's protests today appear to be the largest public call for democratic reform and an end to the Mubarak regime for years.

Editorial Board Blog
Democracy comes in waves, and Tunisia's 'jasmine revolution' may be the Arabs' turn

The rise of democracies since World War II seemed to come region by region, from Africa to Latin America to Asia. Are Arab states of North Africa and the Middle East next?

How 5 revolutions got their names

Questions are cropping up about the appropriateness of calling Tunisia's uprising the "Jasmine Revolution" – stemming from the fact that the term has been used in reference to Syria in 2005 and even the path that brought ousted Tunisian President Ben Ali to power. But the moniker could stick, at least partially because it's become a tradition of sorts to name the revolutions of the 2000s after colors and flowers and even household items. Here's an overview of some of the popular revolutions – and their nicknames – that preceded Tunisia's ... whatever you want to call it:

Backchannels
A wave of Arab revolt after Tunisia?

Maybe. But there are unique conditions at play in each regional state.

Backchannels
The key players in Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution

Tunisia's 'Jasmine Revolution' is still under way, with fighting in the capital today. Here are some of the key players driving events.

Backchannels
Tunisia: That 'WikiLeaks Revolution' meme

The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia is being driven by flesh and blood and conditions on the ground, not because WikiLeaks 'revealed' to Tunisians the real face of a government they'd lived with their whole lives.

Africa Monitor
Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution, and how mobile phones helped it happen

The overthrow of Tunisian President Zine Al-Abedine Ben Ali is a sign of political ferment both in Africa and in the Islamic world, fed by economic distress, political repression, and young people with the tools -- including mobile phones and Internet -- to make changes.

Backchannels
Greetings readers (Hi Mom!) and apologies

Backchannels
An Arab popular revolution (well, sort of) in Tunisia

Backchannels
Tunisia: Military support for protests?

The Monitor's View: Ouster of Tunisia president: An opportunity for Arab autocrats to respond to the people

The Arab world nervously watches Tunisia as protests force a longstanding repressive ruler to flee. Is revolution in the air?