2011 is not even two months old and yet we’ve seen unprecedented events across Africa and Middle East. Events on the power of the falling of the Berlin Wall and the freeing of Nelson Mandella / end of Apartheid.
The Jamine Revolution as its being called started in Tunisia and has spread to, Algeria, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain( Middle East protests: Country by country). Who would have thought Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would be forced from office by people power?
Although most of the revolutions have been largely peaceful, this has been shattered by the reports coming out of Libya. As the Lybian leader Col Gaddafi tries to cling on to power, his troops and security forces have been clashing with protesters,with by all accounts leaving scores dead. An eyewitness in Tripoli told the BBC he could see people being shot down by aircraft. In Benghazi, reports say 11 solders were killed by their commanding officers for refusing to fire on protesters, whilst two Lybian fighter planes defected to Malta.
So what now for Africa and the Middle East, or even further afield?
Will Regime change across these Countries bring about meaningful change?
Will it bring more jobs to those countries – better living standards – better education – lower food prices or wage increases ?
Will the people in Iran rise up and grasp the chance to oust their leaders ?
And will the Chinese leader be looking over his shoulder and thinking what if ?
