In 2019, the Middle East has experienced another Eventful Year. Regional tensions have continued to spread, and people's livelihoods have been disturbed. Many once prominent political leaders have been abandoned by history.
1.Algeria: Demonstrations ended Bouteflika Era
On February 22, a large number of Algerian people took to the streets to protest against the fifth term of President Bouteflika. The week-long demonstrations escalated, and President Bouteflika finally announced his resignation on April 2, ending his 20-year governing career.
Bouteflika submits resignation
2.Libya: Haftar launched attack on Tripoli
On April 4, Khalifa Haftar, a Libyan military strongman, ordered his armed forces to attack west, occupied the capital of Tripoli and drove away the internationally recognized government of Libyan National Unity. But for several months, despite numerous air strikes and assistance from outside forces, its armed forces have not broken through the capital's defense line.
Tripoli women join protests demanding Haftar to stop attacks on capital
3.Sudan: Bashir sentenced to two years prison
In December 2018, a revolutionary movement in Sudan broke out. Since then, the military action has continued. Finally, the prison sentence of former President Omar al-Bashir was finally announced on April 11, 2019.
Subsequently, the Sudanese Revolutionary Forces reached an agreement with the military to form a transitional government, which will realize decentralization during the transition phase. The Sudanese Criminal Court announced that former President Al-Bashir was sentenced to two years of social transformation on suspicions of usurping large amounts of money, embezzlement, and violating currency exchange laws.
Bashir appears in court
4.Turkey: Erdogan lost control of Istanbul
On June 23, Ekreim Imamoglu, the candidate of the Republican People’s Party of Turkey’s largest opposition, won a clear advantage in the re-elected mayoral elections of Istanbul, ending 25 years of the era of Istanbul under the control of Recep Tayip Erdogan and his party. Istanbul is Turkey's largest and most important city.
Ekreim Imoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's largest city
5.Tunisia: Essebsi passed away, Said became the new president
On July 25, Tunisian President Beji Caid-Essebsi passed away at the age of 92. Because of his rich governing experience and strong political determination, Essebsi had won the trust of most Tunisians, and the public believes that he saved Tunisia from the dangerous situation of the Arab Spring.
On October 13, Tunisia ushered in another important day, Keith Said became the new president who is not from the party and party system, winning 70% of the vote.
Tunisian people bid farewell to Essebsi
Keith Said sworn in Parliament
6. Egypt: Muhammad Ali confronted Sisi
In early September, construction contractor Mohamed Ali, who had worked with the Egyptian military for many years, fled to Spain and posted a series of videos on social platforms, accusing Egyptian President Sisi of corruption and squandering public funds, including the construction of a luxurious new presidential palace and Entertainment and leisure.
What followed was a large-scale demonstration. Massive demonstrations broke out in many cities in Egypt, demanding that President Sisi step down, and some people destroyed the portrait of the president.
Mohamed Ali
People marched in downtown of Cairo, demanding that Sisi step down
7.Saudi Arabia: Aramco was attacked
On September 14, Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, two important oil facilities were attacked, resulting in a 5% drop in global oil production. One of the facilities was a giant crude oil processing plant. The drone and missile attacks caused 50% of reduction of output of Saudi Arabia oil. Although the Yemeni Hussein militants claimed responsibility for the incident, Saudi Arabia said that the killer behind the scenes was Iran, which has denied by Iran.
In the past year, tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated. In addition to this attack, there have been several incidents of tanker seizure and attack.
Residues from the attack on Aramco's oil facilities
8.Iraq: demonstrations broke out
In early October, demonstrations in Iraq continued to escalate, and people demanded that the corrupt government step down and called for reform on the political system. During the demonstrations, several violent confrontations took place, hundreds of protesters were killed and thousands were injured. In addition, demonstrators plotted a series of operations such as kidnapping and assassination.
Pressured by public opinion, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mehdi announced his resignation, which was accepted by the parliament on December.
Demonstrators raised Iraqi flag in downtown of Baghdad
9. Lebanon: demonstrations broke out
Beginning on October 17, Lebanon has experienced a cross-sectarian and regional popular movement, demanding that the entire political class step down and establish a rescue government composed of non-partisans to end the country's worst economic crisis since the civil war.
Under the pressure from the popular movement, Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted his resignation on October 29, and the President of the Republic, Michel Oen, commissioned former Education Minister Hassan Diab to form a government on December 19.
Demonstrators demanded government step down
10.Palestine: Israeli assassination and aggression in Gaza
Israel launched an air strike on the Gaza Strip on November 12, when senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Baha Abu Atta and his wife were killed. On the same day, several Israeli warplanes also fired several missiles in the direction of the Syrian capital, Damascus. Two missiles hit the residence of Jehad's political leader Akram Ajuri, killing his son and companions.
Following the death of Baha Abu Atta, Israeli forces continued to bombard the Gaza Strip for three days, killing 34 people, including 8 children and 3 women, and wounding more than 100 others. At the same time, the resistance fired missiles at Israeli towns and the conflict continued until the two sides reached an armistice agreement facilitated by the Egyptian government.
Commander Baha Abu Atta
11. Islamic State: Abu Bakr Baghdadi was killed
U.S. President Trump announced on October 26 that Abu Baq Baghdadi, the leader of the extremist group Islamic State, died during a late-night US military attack on Barisha village in Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
Baghdadi's last appearance in the video
(Compiled by Tan Min)
Reference: Middle East 2019 in Photos, Al Jazeera, December 30, 2019.