February 2 — Middle East: YEMEN
Popular protests in Tunisia and other countries in the region encourage Yemen’s anti-governments groups who manage to gather more than 20,000 protesters who call for economic reforms and the government to step down. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for more than 30 years, offers several concessions, including a promise to step down in 2013 and not handing power to his son. Yemen has an unemployment rate reaching 35 percent.
February 3 — International Issues
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reports that world food prices rose again in January for the seventh month in a row. Increases were especially high on such commodities as cereal, dairy products, and sugar. High food prices sparked violent protests in many countries in 2008, and have been one of the reasons of recent anti-government uprisings throughout the Middle East and northern Africa.
February 8 — Europe: RUSSIA
Chechen warlord and head of the Islamic militants in the North Caucasus Doku Umarov says that he ordered the suicide attack at Domodedovo international airport in Russia’s capital, Moscow, last month, which killed 36 people and wounded 180 others.
February 10 — Middle East: JORDAN
Under the pressure of the five-week largely peaceful street protests, Jordan’s King Abdullah sacks Prime Minister Samir Rifai and forms a new government which, under the leadership of former General Marouf Bakhit, is given the task to implement reforms. The protesters have demanded action to fix economic problems, such as high unemployment and rising food prices. They also have called for political reforms, including increased popular participation in the political process.
February 11 — Africa: EGYPT
Weeks of popular protests across Egypt force the country’s President Hosni Mubarak to resign after 30 years in office. He hands power to the army and leaves Cairo to his residence at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Egypt’s military promises to transition the country to civilian rule.
February 14 — Middle East: IRAN
Two people are killed in violent protests in Iran when thousands of opposition supporters clashed with police. The demonstrators gathered in Tehran and other cities in solidarity with protesters in Egypt and Tunisia and other countries throughout the region. The former Prime Minister and main opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has been placed under house arrest ahead of the protests.
February 15 — Europe/Africa: ITALY/EUROPEAN UNION/TUNISIA
The European Union’s border agency Frontex sends several dozen patrol agents, patrol boats and aircraft to the Italian island of Lampedusa to help Italy with the surge of illegal immigrants escaping Tunisia following last month’s mass protests. In just one week, about 5,000 immigrants reached the island by boat. The influx is affecting the EU as a whole, as many of these migrants try to settle in other EU countries.
February 16 — Africa: LIBYA
An arrest of human rights activist in Libya sparks violent anti-government protests in the north-eastern coastal city of Benghazi, with about two thousand people clashing with riot police and pro-government supporters. Demonstrations spread to Zenton, south of Tripoli, and eastern city of Beyida. Libya’s leader, Colonel Gaddafi, is the Arab world’s longest-serving leader, ruling Libya since 1969. (February 22): Colonel Gaddafi refuses to step down, vows to crush the uprising, and calls on his supporters to join the fight against the rebels. Many Libyan soldiers, policemen, and diplomats defect and join the opposition. Also, interior and justice ministers resign. The opposition says that at least 500 people have been killed so far in fighting with the government forces. (February 23): The protesters celebrate taking control of eastern part of the country.
February 22 — Middle East: BAHRAIN
Tens of thousands of people in Bahrain join street protests in the capital, Manama, calling for the government’s resignation and political reforms that would lead to a constitutional monarchy. Several people are killed after the riot police crack down on the protesters. (February 26): In conciliatory movement, the government sacks four government ministers and drops the charges against the prominent Shia opposition leader Hassan Mushaima, allowing him to return to Bahrain from exile.
February 22 — East Asia: CAMBODIA/THAILAND
Cambodia and Thailand agree to allow Indonesian observers to monitor the border area near the 11th century temple of Preah Vikear, which is disputed by both countries. The international court assigned the temple to Cambodia in 1962, which did not solve the issue, and the countries have been experiencing occasional border clashes, with the most recent one earlier this month.
February 24 — Africa: ALGERIA
Bowing to pressure from protesters, Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika lifts a 19-year-old state of emergency. Inspired by popular uprisings in the region, Algerian protesters have been calling for greater political rights and resignation of President Bouteflika.
February 27 — Africa: TUNISIA
Amid continued street protests, Tunisia’s Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi steps down. The protesters demand to clear the government of all politicians connected to the previous regime of President Ben Ali.
February 28 — Middle East: OMAN
After three days of popular protests in Oman, during which the demonstrators demanded political and economic reforms, the country’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said promises to create more jobs. He also forms a new ministerial committee, which is supposed to look into demands to give more powers to the elected consultative council. Sultan Qaboos has been in power since 1970, when he took over the country from his father.