Major Events of February 2011: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 2011 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of February 2011: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Feb 2011 2011 Egyptian Revolution Protests: Massive protests erupted in Egypt against President Hosni Mubarak's regime, with millions of demonstrators gathering in Tahrir Square demanding political change and democratic reforms.
- 02 Feb 2011 2011 Egyptian Protests: Egyptian protesters continued nationwide demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak for a ninth day. Mohamed ElBaradei and other protesters demanded Mubarak's immediate departure to avoid further bloodshed and turmoil. Clashes occurred in Cairo and Alexandria between supporters and opponents of Mubarak, resulting in one death and 700 injuries. Mubarak supporters attacked anti-government protesters with stones, knives, and Molotov cocktails. Internet access was partially restored after a five-day blackout, and Al Jazeera urged Egyptian satellite company Nilesat to resume broadcasting its signal. Al Arabiya journalist Ahmad Abdallah was reported missing but later found after being beaten by pro-Mubarak supporters. Pro-Mubarak protesters also attacked CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and his crew. International leaders, including President Barack Obama, called for an 'orderly transition' of power in Egypt.
- 03 Feb 2011 Egyptian Revolution: Tenth Day of Anti-Mubarak Protests: For the tenth consecutive day, anti-government protesters continued to demonstrate against President Hosni Mubarak's regime, demanding political reforms and his resignation.
- 04 Feb 2011 Egyptian Revolution of 2011: Massive protests continued in Egypt against President Hosni Mubarak's regime, with demonstrators demanding political reform and his immediate resignation. Protesters filled Tahrir Square in Cairo, chanting 'Leave! Leave! Leave!' marking the eleventh day of sustained civil unrest.
- 05 Feb 2011 Egyptian Revolution: Tahrir Square Protests Continue: For the twelfth consecutive day, anti-Mubarak protesters remain in Cairo's Tahrir Square, demonstrating sustained civil resistance against the Mubarak regime.
- 06 Feb 2011 Egyptian Revolution of 2011: Day of Martyrs: On the thirteenth consecutive day of protests against the Mubarak regime, demonstrators continued their intense campaign for political change. The day was dubbed the 'Day of Martyrs' to honor those who had been killed during the uprising, highlighting the growing momentum of the Egyptian revolution.
- 07 Feb 2011 Pro-Democracy Protests in Egypt: Pro-democracy protests in Egypt have entered their 14th day, with thousands of activists occupying Tahrir Square in Cairo, demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. These protests were part of the broader Arab Spring movement challenging authoritarian regimes in the Middle East.
- 08 Feb 2011 Charles Taylor War Crimes Trial Controversy: Former Liberian President Charles Taylor walked out of his international war crimes trial, with his lawyer protesting that his client had been denied a fair judicial process.
- 09 Feb 2011 Egyptian Revolution of 2011: Massive nationwide protests against President Hosni Mubarak's authoritarian regime continue for the sixteenth consecutive day, with labor unions supporting pro-democracy demonstrations and human rights groups alleging military torture of government opponents.
- 10 Feb 2011 Egyptian Revolution Protests Continue: For the seventeenth consecutive day, nationwide protests continue against the Mubarak regime, marking a critical period of civil unrest demanding political change in Egypt.
- 11 Feb 2011 Egyptian Revolution: Mubarak's Resignation: The first wave of the Arab Spring culminates in the resignation of Hosni Mubarak after 18 days of widespread protests, marking a pivotal moment in Egypt's modern political history. Mubarak's 30-year authoritarian rule ends with the transfer of power to the Supreme Military Council, led by Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.
- 12 Feb 2011 Algerian Protests Inspired by Egyptian Revolution: Thousands of people, inspired by the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, marched through Algiers in protest of their regime and demanded the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
- 13 Feb 2011 Egypt's Military Suspends Constitution: Following the Egyptian revolution, the army suspends the constitution and dissolves parliament, announcing elections within six months, contingent on continued public demonstrations.
- 14 Feb 2011 Bahraini Uprising Begins: Violence erupts in Bahrain as protesters, inspired by recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, select February 14th as a 'Day of Rage' to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter. The protests are part of the broader Arab Spring movement demanding political reforms and democratic change.
- 15 Feb 2011 2011 Bahraini Protests: Massive demonstrations erupted in Bahrain as thousands of protesters demanded political reforms and challenged the ruling monarchy. After a protester was killed during a funeral, tensions escalated dramatically, leading to widespread civil unrest.
- 16 Feb 2011 IBM Watson Wins Jeopardy!: IBM's Watson artificial intelligence program makes history by defeating top human contestants Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings on the popular quiz show 'Jeopardy!', marking a significant milestone in AI development.
- 17 Feb 2011 Arab Spring: Libyan Uprising Begins: On February 17, 2011, widespread protests erupted across Libya against Muammar Gaddafi's long-standing authoritarian regime, marking a critical moment in the Arab Spring revolutionary wave. Demonstrators in multiple cities demanded political reforms, human rights, and an end to Gaddafi's 42-year rule.
- 18 Feb 2011 Day of Rage Aftermath: Following the previous day's 'Day of Rage', anti-regime protests continued overnight. Human Rights Watch reported 24 deaths and numerous injuries, with funerals being held for those killed.
- 19 Feb 2011 Libyan Civil War Escalates with Civilian Casualties: Human Rights Watch reports severe violence during the Libyan Civil War, with Libyan security forces killing 84 civilians in three days. Exiles claim 120 total deaths, with reports of snipers targeting funeral attendees in Benghazi. Hospitals are overwhelmed and facing critical blood shortages.
- 20 Feb 2011 Arab Spring Begins: The Arab Spring, a wave of pro-democracy uprisings sweeping across multiple Middle Eastern and North African countries, gains significant momentum with widespread protests challenging authoritarian regimes.
- 21 Feb 2011 Arab Spring Uprising: A significant wave of pro-democracy protests and revolutions sweeping across multiple Arab countries, challenging long-standing authoritarian regimes and demanding political reforms, human rights, and economic opportunities.
- 22 Feb 2011 Christchurch Earthquake of 2011: A devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, causing widespread destruction and claiming 185 lives, making it the country's second deadliest earthquake in modern history.
- 23 Feb 2011 Libyan Civil War Escalates: The Libyan Civil War of 2011 intensified as anti-government protesters and military defectors gained control of multiple cities, challenging Muammar Gaddafi's regime and marking a critical turning point in the conflict.
- 24 Feb 2011 2011 Libyan Civil War: A major uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's regime, involving widespread protests, military defections, and international intervention that ultimately led to the overthrow of the long-standing dictator.
- 25 Feb 2011 Arab Spring Protests Escalate: Multiple countries experienced significant anti-government protests, with at least 29 people killed during a 'Day of Rage' in Iraq. Tens of thousands participated in demonstrations in Bahrain, Yemen, and Libya. In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi addressed supporters in Tripoli, while a Libyan UN envoy defected during a Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.
- 26 Feb 2011 2011 Libyan Civil War Escalation: The Libyan Civil War intensified with increasing international and internal pressure mounting against Muammar Gaddafi's regime. The conflict marked a critical moment in the Arab Spring uprisings.
- 27 Feb 2011 UN Security Council Sanctions Gaddafi Regime: The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1970, imposing international sanctions against Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Libya, escalating diplomatic pressure during the ongoing civil conflict.
- 28 Feb 2011 Arab Spring Escalates: A pivotal day in the Arab Spring, with widespread protests and political upheaval across multiple Middle Eastern countries, signaling significant regional transformation.