1. UPDATE ON THE UPDATE… Arab Spring2011

2. TUNISIA… Habib Essid is the current Prime Minister. He served in a variety of government positions under the autocratic President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in 2011. Essid is American-trained economist; He is working to get a Congress approved that is more inclusive of Tunisia’s diverse political parties, including the powerful Islamist party, Ennahda. The Economy slowed in 2012-2013 but began to rebound in 2014 & hopefully will continue to pick up momentum. The gov. is spending a lot of $$ on infrastructure & education, hoping to ensure a better future for Tunisia’s youth (whose dissatisfaction was a key cause of the revolt). STATUS: slow progress after transitioning from post 2011 to present.

3. EGYPT… Widespread Middle East unrest in 2011 loosed grievances against the 30- year autocratic rule of President Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted following a dramatic period of protest that became a watershed moment in the Arab Spring. This upheaval paved the way for the country’s first free parliamentary elections, in which the Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi was elected president. Subsequent protests against Morsi’s authoritarianism led to a 2013 military coup d’etat and the election of former general Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as president in 2014.Hosni MubarakMuslim Brotherhood Mohamed Morsi Currently, Pres Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government is working to improve relations with international oil industry and to work toward economic reform & development, but some businessmen complain that government has still done too little to clear away obstacles to growth. STATUS: transition has been rocky…political stability is still not fully recovered.

4. LIBYA… In 2011 the 42-year rule of Col Muammar Gaddafi ended in this oil rich N. African nation. A transitional government took charge and had the challenge of imposing order, disbanding the former rebel forces, rebuilding the economy, creating functioning institutions and managing the pledged transition to democracy and the rule of law. Elections for a General National Congress were held in July 2012, the country's first free national election in six decades. The congress appointed a prime minister, Ali Zeidan, in October, who formed an interim government tasked with preparing the ground for a new constitution and fresh parliamentary elections. However, tensions between nationalists and Islamists have stymied attempts to produce a stable government, and in 2014 the country was riven by fighting between rival militias. Central government collapsed, and the United Nations has struggled to bring political factions together. STATUS: still struggling to transition.

5. JORDAN… Since early 2011, political demonstrations have taken place in many parts of Jordan on Fridays and sometimes on other days of the week. The size and frequency of protests has now reduced. But demonstrations may occur at refugee camps and town centres in response to events in Gaza, West Bank and the region. On 6 April 2014, a violent incident took place at the Zaatari refugee camp resulting in a death. Violent clashes have been known to occur on university campuses, some of which have resulted in fatalities. King Abdullah II faces the task of maintaining stability while accommodating calls for reform. Plans for long-term political, economic and social change – the “National Agenda” - have yet to be implemented in spite of the Arab Spring revolts. Syrian war refugees continue to be a major concern for gov. & citizens. STATUS: Not much has changed politically. Instability continues…

6. SYRIA… Extremists who have been fighting to gain control of Syria for the past three years have now infiltrated border cities in Iraq, sparking yet another refugee crisis in the Middle East. Bordering nations are already well over capacity, absorbing nearly 3 million refugees from Syria. Territorial control in Syria has changed many times since the country's uprising began four years ago and the current conflict is characterized by heavy fighting and marginal gains in ground. The US-led, multi-national coalition's air strikes against areas held by Islamic State (IS) - the extremist group that grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq - appears to have slowed their rapid advance across Syria and neighboring Iraq. Conflict mapConflict map STATUS: Messy!! Conflict continues…no end in sight.

7. YEMEN… On Feb. 11, 2015 Saleh Ali al-Sammad, leader of Houthi militants who took over capital of Sana, Yemen, announced group's willingness to work with rivals and with ally nations during United Nations-mediated talks; They placed Yemen’s President under house arrest & forced him to resign; he recently escaped house arrest & has withdrawn his resignation. The United States closed its embassy in Yemen and warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Yemen. The department said all embassy and consular activities had been “relocated out of the country” but did not say where. STATUS: without an official government…very dangerous & unstable…travel plans should be cancelled!!