Foreign Policy cited food and unemployment riots in Algeria in December
and January. The magazine also cited concerns that the brother of Algerian
President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika was trying to succeed the ailing 73-year-old
leader.
"Although Bouteflika's regime is unpopular and increasingly
undemocratic, it's not nearly as repressive as was Ben Ali's, which may make
it harder for the opposition to build a mass movement for its ouster," the
report said. "Additionally, there are no signs that Algeria's influential
trade unions or opposition groups are willing to support the rioters — who
are mostly unemployed youths at this point. Perhaps in an effort to avoid
association with Bin Ali, Bouteflika has wished success to Tunisia's new
government."
Egypt has also been vulnerable to massive unrest, including food
demonstrations as well as suicide protests. So far, at least three people
have set themselves on fire in protest of the policies of the regime of
President Hosni Mubarak. The opposition has already warned of a
Tunisian-style revolt.
The report said street protests have also been sparked in Libya despite
the removal of duties on imported food. Some of the protests have been
posted on Youtube amid reports of infighting within the Gadhafi family.
Jordan and Sudan have also been struggling with rising unrest. The
regime of Sudanese President Omar Bashir has been threatened with secession
by the south as well as protests in Khartoum, while Jordan faced rising
unrest sparked by high food prices and unemployment. Jordan's Queen Rania
received an online message that she should begin "palace-hunting in Jedda,"
the new Saudi haven of Bin Ali.
"An unpredictable new parliament and double-digit unemployment have led
some analysts to question his [Jordan's King Abdullah] grasp on power," the
report said.
ShareThis
