Presidents the Arab Spring toppled, where are they now?

Fifteen years ago, Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old Tunisian street vendor, set himself ablaze after authorities confiscated his cart. His desperate act ignited widespread protests across Tunisia, fueled by rising unemployment, corruption, and a rigid political system offering little opportunity for change.

Within a month, these demonstrations led to the downfall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had held power for 23 years. Inspired by Tunisia, similar uprisings erupted in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria in 2011. The Arab Spring, as this movement became known, resulted in the removal of five long-serving leaders. Here’s a look at what happened to them:

• Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia)**
• Ruled: 1987-2011 (23 years)
• Died: 2019
• Status: Died in exile

Ben Ali, a former security chief, became president in 1987 by declaring then-President Habib Bourguiba medically unfit. While in office, he suppressed dissent, creating a strict system controlled by security services and a loyal political party. His economic policies led to growth, but corruption, inequality, and censorship fueled public anger. The self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi on December 17, 2010, triggered widespread protests against police abuse, unemployment, and corruption. After weeks of demonstrations, Ben Ali dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, and fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14. A Tunisian court later sentenced him to life imprisonment in absentia. He died in exile in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on September 19, 2019, at age 83.

• Hosni Mubarak (Egypt)**
• Ruled: 1981-2011 (30 years)
• Died: 2020
• Status: Died in Egypt (after release)

Mubarak assumed the presidency in 1981 following Anwar Sadat's assassination. The former air force commander consolidated his authority through military strength and emergency laws. His three-decade rule was marked by suppression of dissent, limited political freedoms, and widespread corruption. On January 25, 2011, Egyptians took to the streets, driven by unemployment, poverty, and political repression, demanding Mubarak's resignation. After 18 days of protests, he was forced to step down on February 11, 2011. Mubarak faced trial and was initially sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the deaths of protesters. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. Egypt’s high court overturned this conviction, ordering a retrial. While awaiting retrial, he was convicted on corruption charges and detained for six years, although he spent little of that time in prison due to his health. He was acquitted in 2017 and released. Mubarak died in Cairo on February 25, 2020, at the age of 91.

• Ali Abdullah Saleh (Yemen)**
• Ruled: 1978-2012 (33 years)
• Died: 2017
• Status: Killed by Houthis

Saleh, a dominant figure in Yemeni politics for 33 years, served as president of North Yemen from 1978 and then of unified Yemen from 1990. He was known for his mastery of tribal and military politics, describing his rule as “dancing on the heads of snakes.” The 2011 Arab Spring protests forced Saleh to cede power in 2012 under a power-transfer agreement. He later allied himself with the Houthis, his former adversaries, helping them seize the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. This alliance dissolved in 2017 when he sought a deal with the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis. Houthi forces killed him at the age of 75.

• Muammar Gaddafi (Libya)**
• Ruled: 1969-2011 (42 years)
• Died: 2011
• Status: Killed by rebels

Gaddafi, an army officer, seized power in a 1969 coup, dismantling the Libyan monarchy. He promoted himself to the rank of colonel and maintained it for the rest of his life. He established a highly personalized and restrictive government, ruling through revolutionary committees and controlling Libya's oil wealth. After decades of international isolation, he re-engaged with Western nations in the early 2000s, renouncing his weapons programs. Protests erupted in Benghazi on February 15, 2011, after the arrest of a human rights lawyer. Gaddafi's violent response transformed the protests into an armed uprising and civil war. By August 2011, opposition forces had captured Tripoli, signaling the end of his regime. A NATO air campaign and internal defections shifted the balance against Gaddafi. He retreated to his hometown of Sirte, where rebel forces captured and killed him on October 20, 2011, ending his 42-year rule.

• Bashar al-Assad (Syria)**
• Ruled: 2000-2024 (24 years)
• Status: Ousted, in exile

Bashar al-Assad assumed power in 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled Syria for 29 years after seizing power in a 1970 coup. The Syrian revolution began with anti-government graffiti written by teenagers in Deraa. These acts of defiance sparked nationwide protests, met with a brutal government crackdown that ignited a civil war. The conflict drew in global powers and lasted nearly 14 years, displacing over half of Syria's population and creating a major refugee crisis. On December 8, 2024, the Assad family's 53-year rule ended. A swift offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other rebel factions caused the Syrian military to collapse. As rebel forces entered Damascus, Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Moscow, where they were granted asylum.