Protests in Oman 2011

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Map of Oman

The protests in Oman in 2011 were directed against the form of government of Sultan Qaboos ibn Said , who de facto ruled the country alone . They arose in connection with a wave of similar protests in the Arab worldand started around February 18, 2011. After the protests were peaceful in the first week, the first violent clashes with security forces broke out on Sunday, February 27th. Two demonstrators were killed in the process. At first, the Omani demonstrators only demanded political reforms and not, as in other Arab countries, the resignation of the power holder, but since February 28, the protesters' displeasure has been directed more and more directly against the Sultan . At the same time, a pro-Qaboos-oriented support movement grew.

background

Sultan Qaboos ibn Said (2008)

Political situation

Sultan Qaboos ibn Said has ruled Oman since 1970. He opened up and modernized the backward state that was closed at the beginning of his reign. Nevertheless, he has repeatedly arrested political activists and had parties banned. Although the country has a parliament, it is not allowed to make its own decisions and only provides advice to the sultan.

Economic situation

Oman is a comparatively wealthy country. The country derives its income almost exclusively from oil and natural gas exports . However, the government is promoting a way away from finite raw materials and is therefore investing heavily in industry , tourism and education , which is why the young Omanis are well educated by international standards. Yet many of them cannot find work. The unemployment in Oman is estimated to be 12 to 15%. It mainly affects young people in the country. Many Omanis are therefore calling for the immigration of guest workers to be stopped in order to get work themselves. Social assistance for the unemployed is also very low.

Demands of the protesters

The Omani protests began with calls for better social security, cuts in taxes and duties, reforms and the creation of more jobs. That is why the port city of Suhar was the center of the first protests. The lack of freedom of expression was another cause of the demonstrations. There were also calls for a fairer distribution of the income from the oil business and a ban on immigration for migrant workers . The corruption is a major issue in the protests. Many demonstrators therefore use slogans such as Yes to reforms! No to corruption! .

From February 28, the protest was increasingly directed against the Sultan himself and his ministers, some of whom were corrupt.

Government reactions

Sultan Qaboos ibn Said reshuffled the cabinet on February 26, 2011. A total of six ministers were replaced.

The government of Oman promised several political reforms on February 27, 2011 following the largest protests to date on February 26 and 27. These included:

In addition, the government or the sultan wanted to examine whether the advisory parliament could be granted more rights. However, the wave of protests was unable to defuse this courtesy, so that there were major riots on the following day.

course

February 18th and 19th

On February 18, 2011, demonstrations took place for the first time in the capital Muscat in the government district of al-Khuwair. There were calls for more jobs and political reforms. However, the protests were calm and not directed against the ruling Sultan Qaboos. Protests continued on February 19, but there were no major clashes.

Week from February 21st to 25th

This week the protests subsided and there were only a few small, peaceful protests and rallies. It wasn't until the weekend that numerous people took to the streets again. Around 300 people took to the streets in Muscat. The regime also released 200 political prisoners to counter the protests.

February 26th

The protests, which have been peaceful for days, resulted in mass demonstrations and rallies in the early weekend. The largest protests took place in the port and industrial city of Suhar . Furthermore, mainly political reforms were called for, but not the resignation of the Sultan.

In response to the ongoing protests, Sultan Qaboos undertook a major cabinet reshuffle that day by replacing six ministers. To this end, he signed five royal decrees that came into force immediately.

  • Royal Decree No 13/2011
  • Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy was appointed Minister of Public Service .
  • Maqbool bin Ali Sultan was appointed Minister of Transport and Telecommunications .
  • The previous Minister of Public Services, Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah al Harthy , was appointed Environment Minister .
  • The previous Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Mohammed bin Nassir bin Mansoor al Khusaibi , was appointed Minister of Industry and Trade . He replaced the long-standing predecessor Maqbool bin Ali Sultan . The change at the top of the ministry came at a time of increasing anger among the population about the rise in prices for everyday goods.
  • Mohsin bin Mohammed bin Ali al Shaikh was appointed Minister of Tourism . He succeeded Rajiha bint Abdulameer bin Ali, who died in February 2011 .
  • Madeeha bint Ahmed bin Nassir al Shibaniyah was appointed Minister of Education, succeeding the previous minister, Yahya bin Saud Al Sulaimi . She is the third woman in the cabinet to hold ministerial rank.
  • Royal Decree No 14/2011: The former Minister of Transport Khamis bin Mubarak al Alawi and the former Minister of Education Yahya bin Saud bin Mansoor al Sulaimy were appointed as state advisers . The State Council consists largely of former government officials.
  • Royal Decree No 15/2011: Shaikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed bin Ahmed al Harthy was appointed Secretary General with the rank of Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
  • Royal Decree No 16/2011: As members of the consultative State Council Majlis al-Dawla were Sayyid Hamad bin Hilal al Busaidy and Mohammed bin Hamoud bin Zahir al Toobi appointed.
  • Royal Decree No 17/2011:
  • Muna bint Salim bin Khalfan al Jardaniyah was appointed as sub-state secretary in the Ministry of Labor (responsibility: technical and vocational training) .
  • Mohammed bin Khamis bin Abdullah al Amri was appointed as Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Labor (responsibility: Labor) .

27th of February

In Suhar, the center of the protest, around 2,000 demonstrators gathered on the night of February 26-27. There were clashes between demonstrators and security forces for the first time. Tear gas and batons were used by security forces against the protesters while the protesters threw stones at the officers. According to doctors and eyewitnesses, police also used rubber bullets after using tear gas , killing two people. These were the first to die. Eyewitnesses also reported that the military participated. Attempts were made to occupy a police station in Suhar. Several government vehicles and buildings were also set on fire. Demonstrations were also observed in Salala .

In order to appease the demonstrators, Sultan Qaboos ibn Said promised first reforms, including higher scholarships, the establishment of a consumer association and the provision of cheaper food to the citizens.

February 28

The supermarket in Suhar set on fire by the demonstrators

Numerous demonstrations, some of them violent, took place in Suhar, Muscat and in some other regions.

In Suhar , the center of the demonstrations, the number of dead rose by four to six people and the number of injured to at least 20, according to international media. However, the Omani Ministry of Health insisted on its account that only one person was killed. In the city, the demonstrators occupied the access roads to a port mainly used by oil tankers, the nearby oil refinery and the aluminum smelter. During the day, the angry crowd, mostly from Suhar, set fire to a police station, the Wali office and a branch of the employment office.

In addition, because of the incipient supply shortage in the city, demonstrators looted a LuLu supermarket , which was then set on fire. Numerous police officers are said to have been in the city, but according to some residents they did not interfere in the events. In addition, numerous window panes from office buildings were thrown in.

Muscat was also hit by the wave of protests. What was new were the demands that were now emerging for the resignation of the ministers, and in some cases also of the sultan. During the protests, there were numerous posters, banderoles and signs with direct criticism against Sultan Qaboos ibn Said.

1st March

On March 1, 2011, clashes broke out again in Suhar and other cities in the country such as Salalah and Buraimi , where hundreds of people took to the streets. The protest also spread to more and more cities in the country. The demands of the demonstrators were still an end to corruption, new jobs, rising wages and reforms in politics. Even Sultan Qaboos ibn Said's relenting with the promise of 50,000 public service jobs, unemployment benefits and other issues could not appease the demonstrators.

Violent demonstrations broke out in Suhar that day, during which a bridge to an expressway leading to Muscat was occupied. For the first time, the military also stepped in and used tanks to disperse the protests, which consisted of several hundred people.

At the same time, protesters loyal to the regime took to the streets, mainly in Muscat, to support “their” Sultan Qaboos ibn Said.

4th of March

After participation declined over the course of the week, the number of protest participants suddenly increased. The protests were connected with the Friday prayer , which is very important in Islam and which was used in the current wave of protests as a symbol of community.

In Suhar , still the protest center, the demonstrators held a common Friday prayer this Friday, in which around 500 young men took part. The protest movement continued to demand - in addition to social support - proceedings against politicians who were corrupt from the viewpoint of the demonstrators and the participation of citizens in government decisions.

5. March

Sultan Qaboos signed three royal edicts appointing three new cabinet members:

a) Royal Decree No. 28/2011: Sayyid Khalid Bin Hilal Bin Saud Al Busaidi was appointed as the new Minister of the “Diwan of Royal Court” with immediate effect .
b) Royal Decree No. 29/2011: As the new Minister of the Royal Office, Lt-Gen. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Numani appointed.
c) Royal Decree No. 30/2011: Nasr Bin Hamoud Bin Ahmed Al Kindy was appointed as the new State Secretary with the rank of Minister of State for “Royal Court Affairs” with immediate effect .

Officials announced that the announced reforms and cabinet reshuffle were enthusiastically received by the demonstrators. Regardless of this, the protests continued.

6th March

In Suhar , protesters continued to occupy two roundabouts; the so-called "Globe Roundabout" was renamed "Reform Square" by the occupiers. The government blamed "agitators from the United Arab Emirates" for the riots in the north of the country. In the capital, Muscat, a large crowd gathered in front of the HR department of the Royal Oman Police to apply for one of the 10,000 newly created jobs. In addition, around 1,000 protesters held a sit-in in front of the Shura Council . In Salalah , around 10,000 people demonstrated in front of the governor's building for the seventh day in a row. In Sur , around 5,000 demonstrators protested in front of the official building of the Wali . They demanded political reforms, more participation and an end to corruption.

7th March

In Suhar the occupations of the “Globe Roundabout” and the “Mina Roundabout” entered the ninth day. The blockades led to significant traffic obstructions. The access to the port continued to be secured by the Royal Police of Oman to prevent the ongoing protests from disrupting shipping.

In view of the ongoing protests, Sultan Qaboos decided to reorganize the cabinet with immediate effect. This was the third decision to reshuffle the government since the protests began:

  • Royal Decree No 32/2011: Shaikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed bin Ahmed al Harthy has been appointed Secretary General of the Cabinet.
  • Royal Decree No 33/2011: Shaikh Nassir bin Hilal bin Nassir al Maawali has been appointed Chairman of the Court of Auditors with the rank of Minister.
  • Royal Decree No 34/2011: Rasheed bin al Safi bin Khamis al Huraibi has been appointed Chairman of the Procurement Office with the rank of Minister.
  • Royal Decree No 35/2011: Mohsen bin Mohammed bin Ali al Shaikh has been appointed advisor to the Divan of the Royal Court with the rank of minister.
  • Royal Decree No 36/2011: Abdulmalik bin Abdullah bin Zahir al Hinai has been appointed advisor in the Ministry of Finance while retaining his previous rank and financial contributions.
  • Royal Decree No 37/2011: Two new Undersecretaries of State have been appointed in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries:
Hamad bin Said bin Sulaiman al Aufi has been appointed Undersecretary of State for Fisheries.
Ishaq bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al Ruqaishi has been appointed Undersecretary of State for Agriculture.

In addition, with Royal Decree No 38/2011 a radical change was decided: the Ministry of Economic Affairs was dissolved. At the same time a cabinet committee was set up to deal with the distribution of previous powers, possessions and employees of the ministry.

8th of March

Protests broke out in Muscat on Tuesday, with around 150 demonstrators gathering in front of the headquarters of Omani State Television to demonstrate for more freedom of the press, more objective reporting and a new information minister. The protests were peaceful and there were no riots.

9th March

On this Wednesday, the wave of protests, which had already subsided over the past few days, almost came to a standstill, after comparatively small protests had only taken place in Muscat and a few other places the day before.

There were no noteworthy demonstrations in the protest stronghold of Suhar either, apart from the ongoing blockade of the two roundabouts. The industrial roundabout in front of the port and industrial area, which is important for the economy of Oman, seemed to be freely navigable again.

In the Sultan Qaboos' residential palace Bait Al Barakah in Sib , the newly appointed ministers were sworn in by Sultan Qaboos during a cabinet meeting. The Sultan exhorted the cabinet members present to preserve the achievements so far for future generations. The new government had to guarantee the security and stability of the country.

March 13th

This Sunday there were again more violent protests, but these were smaller than those on the previous weekends. In the Az-Zahira region , demonstrations took place in the cities of Dank , Yanqul and Ibri for the fourth day in a row. The protesters called for political reforms, jobs and higher wages. They also wanted better infrastructure, such as B. a better road network, more schools and hospitals.

In Ibri, the Wali's office and the housing department's branch office were first pelted with stones and then set on fire by the mostly young rioters. Some vehicles parked there were also set on fire in front of the housing department's branch. The fire brigade could not get to the scene because of a road blockade by the demonstrators.

There was peaceful demonstration in Yanqul. Economic and political reforms were called for on posters and banners.

In response to the protests, the Sultan issued a number of other royal edicts.

  • Royal Decree No. 39/2011: Sultan Qaboos charged a commission with a constitutional reform, which should give legislative powers to the two chambers of the “Council of Oman”. Before that, both chambers only had an advisory role. At first it was not known whether the sultan wanted to reserve a right of veto.
  • Two further royal edicts increased social pensions by 100% and civil servants' pensions by up to 50% with effect from April 1, 2011. The minimum pension for former civil servants was set at 202,500 Omani rials . The surcharges in detail:
Previous pension in RO Surcharge in%
135-200 RO 50%
200-400 RO 40%
400-600 RO 30%
600-1,000 RO 15%
over 1,000 RO 5%
  • Royal Decree No. 40/2011: The previous Inspector General of the Police and Customs Lieutenant-General Malik bin Suleiman Al Ma'amari , who was criticized primarily for his crackdown on the demonstrators in Suhar, was promoted from Major to Lieutenant-General by Hassan Am Mohsen Bin Salim Al Shraiqi replaced.

March 14-22

In general, a strong decline in the protests could be observed. On Tuesday, 22 March 2011 around 100 Omani demonstrators presented in Maskater government quarter Al Khuwair in a tent camp. Slogans such as “We're still waiting for work” or “What about the salary increases in the private sector?” Could be read on banners.

Sultan Qaboos had previously raised all public service salaries by 100 RO / month (about 183 € / month) and the pensions in some cases by up to 50% (see also above). In addition, a grant was given because of the increased cost of living. However, the free economy did not follow suit. The demonstrators found it unfair that only the public service benefited from the demonstrations, not the private sector workers.

This week hundreds of workers went on strike near Muscat airport in the industrial area of Ar-Rusail , so that production in the 300 or so factories was suspended.

Two weeks ago , Sultan Qaboos dismissed a total of 12 ministers under pressure from the streets, including long-time Minister of Economic Affairs Ahmed Abdulnabi Macki , who had been in office for more than two decades. They were accused of corruption by the demonstrators.

In addition to the tent city mentioned above, the still existing sit-in in front of the Shura Council was the second tent city in Oman permanently inhabited by demonstrators. In addition, the protests continued in front of the building of the Wali in Salalah and Suhar .

March 23

Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree appointing two Undersecretaries of State in the Ministry of Health with immediate effect:

Royal Decree No. 44/2011:
Article 1: Ali bin Talib bin Ali al Hina'ei has been appointed Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health for Planning.
Article 2: Darwish bin Saif bin Said al Maharbi has been appointed Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health for Administration and Finance.

April 1st

This Friday there were again strong protests in the port city of Suhar, the protest center, which eventually escalated. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the city to demand the release of numerous political prisoners who had been raided over the week. Another reason for the resurgence of the protests was that no promises had yet been implemented.

The security forces responded by cracking down on the demonstrators. They used water cannons and tear gas against the several hundred demonstrators, as well as rubber bullets and batons. The police said they had been pelted with stones and threatened with knives by the demonstrators. On the same day, the police also arrested 50 to 60 other demonstrators. The authorities and the government did not comply with the protesters' demands.

Officially, the security forces and authorities only confirmed the use of tear gas and water cannons. However, eyewitnesses also spoke of the fact that live ammunition was used. In addition, the protesters spoke of 4 seriously injured.

A 25-year-old man, according to other sources a 22-year-old, was seriously injured by gunfire during the demonstrations. He eventually succumbed to his injuries. His death further fueled the protest movement so that it was particularly strong the following weekend.

2nd of April

Protests broke out in many parts of the country that Saturday over the protester's death. In the capital Muscat, still the second most important protest center after Suhar, there was a sit-in in front of the public prosecutor's office, demanding that the incidents from the previous day be clarified and the activists arrested during the week be released.

17th April

On April 17, 2011, the government passed a one billion riyal (around 1.8 billion euros or 2.3 billion Swiss francs) investment program. The investments should, among other things, flow into infrastructure, education and job creation. However, what proportion should be allocated to which sectors was not announced during the reading on state television.

20th of April

Sultan Qaboos pardoned 234 detained demonstrators who were guilty of the breach of the peace in the al-Batina (Wilaya Suhar ) and az-Zahira (Wilayat Ibri , Dank and Yanqul ) regions . However, arsonists , participants in sit-ins and people who were guilty of insulting civil servants or who had resisted state violence were excluded from the amnesty .

April 22

This Friday, around 1,000 demonstrators took to the streets in the south of the Sultanate after Friday prayers calling for reforms. The demonstrations were peaceful and there were no clashes with the security forces.

International consequences

The oil price rose further on the commodity exchanges due to the protests in Oman and Libya . However, oil exports from Oman were initially not stopped.

Increased safety information

The foreign ministries of several countries, including Germany , France , Italy , Switzerland , Austria , the United Kingdom , issued heightened safety warnings for their citizens for stays in Oman.

Gulf Cooperation Council reactions

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced an aid package on March 10, 2011, which should total 20 billion euros. The said aid pact should benefit the two Gulf states Bahrain and Oman . It planned to use the money to create jobs over the next ten years. Furthermore, investments should be made in the infrastructure of the two states and an improvement in living conditions should be achieved.

Web links

Commons : Protests in Oman 2011  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b handelsblatt.com: The Middle East is on fire! , Handelsblatt.com, February 18, 2011
  2. ↑ The ORF on the clashes on February 27, 2011 with a short profile on Sultan Qabus ibn Said
  3. ^ The German Embassy in Muscat on the economy in Oman ( Memento from November 29, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Time: Arabian Peninsula Unrest in Oman reaches the capital Muscat, February 28, 2011
  5. ↑ Figures about Oman, including unemployment ( Memento from July 17, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ↑ Protests reach Muscat , derStandard.at, February 18, 2011
  7. ^ Protests and talks in Oman , Neue Zürcher Zeitung. February 28, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
  8. ↑ Online report in the New York Times
  9. ↑ krone.at: Wave of protest spreads across more and more Arab states, February 19, 2011
  10. ↑ a b c tagesschau.de: Dead in protests in Oman, February 27, 2011 ( Memento from February 28, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  11. ↑ a b Focus online: Two dead in protests in Sohar, February 27, 2011
  12. ↑ rp-online on the outbreak of the mass protests ( memento from March 2, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  13. ↑ tagesschau.de: Dead in protests in Tunisia, February 26, 2011 ( Memento from February 28, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  14. ↑ Online report in the Khaleej Times
  15. ↑ Online report in the Oman Observer ( Memento from March 1, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  16. ↑ Video about the protests on February 27 at stern.de ( Memento of the original from March 2, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.stern.de
  17. ↑ a b Online report of the Times of Oman ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.timesofoman.com
  18. ↑ Demonstrators block the port: Six dead , derStandard.at, February 28, 2011
  19. ^ Neue Zürcher Zeitung about the protests on February 28, 2011
  20. ↑ a b The star on various unrest on March 1st, 2011, including the events in Oman
  21. ↑ derstandard.at: Army holds back when demonstrating again , derStandard.at, March 4, 2011
  22. ↑ a b Online report in the Times of Oman ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.timesofoman.com
  23. ↑ Online report in the Oman Observer ( Memento from March 8, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  24. ↑ Online report of the Oman Tribune ( Memento from January 10, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  25. ↑ Sit-in continues in front of Shura Council office ( Memento from September 7, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  26. ↑ a b Der Spiegel on various events in the Arab world on March 8, 2011
  27. ↑ Online report in the Oman Observer ( Memento from March 10, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  28. ↑ Demonstration for more press freedom in Oman ( Memento from July 24, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  29. ^ The Oman Tribune on March 9, 2011 ( Memento from June 7, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  30. ↑ Online report in the Oman Tribune ( Memento from January 29, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  31. ↑ a b c Times of Oman as of March 14, 2011 ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.timesofoman.com
  32. ^ Message on March 13, 2011 at BILD
  33. ↑ op-online.de: Comprehensive reforms in Oman after a wave of protests , March 13, 2011
  34. ↑ Neue Zürcher Zeitung Sultan of Oman announces reforms , March 13, 2011 ( Memento from September 6, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  35. ^ SRF: Oman: Sultan Kabuus promises reforms , March 13, 2011
  36. ^ Sultan announces reforms after protests , derStandard.at, March 13, 2011
  37. ↑ Online report by the Times of Oman ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.timesofoman.com
  38. ↑ Publication of the state news agency Oman News Agency (ONA)  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.omannews.gov.om  
  39. ↑ a b reuters.com: Protests in the Middle East do not let up , Sunday, April 3, 2011
  40. ↑ a b Focus online: Oman, police use tear gas against demonstrators , April 1, 2011
  41. ↑ a b Neue Zürcher Zeitung: Death of a demonstrator in Oman fuels resistance , April 2, 2011.
  42. ↑ Time: [1] , April 18, 2011
  43. ^ Neue Zürcher Zeitung: Billions to calm the people , April 18, 2011
  44. ↑ - ( Memento of the original from May 23, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Announcement of the official Oman News Agency dated April 20, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.omannews.gov.om
  45. ^ AFP: Around a thousand people protest in Oman for reforms , April 22, 2011
  46. ↑ Unrest in Oman unsettles oil investors Financial Times Deutschland: Unrest in Oman unsettles oil investors, February 28, 2011 ( Memento of March 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  47. ↑ https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/ausland/golfstaat-verabschieden-hilfspaket-fuer-oman-und-bahrain-105706078
  48. ^ Gulf States: Aid to Bahrain and Oman. In: SRF online, accessed: February 13, 2011 12:16 p.m.