The idea that the Arab Spring has led to a better life is quite debatable. In fact I'd more err on the side that the people in the countries that headed it off early for a few reforms (Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco) actually did better than those in countries that toppled the government. Certainly in Libya and Egypt, security has gone down the drain, the economies are wrecked (tourism in Egypt has been battered by negative publicity) and the new governments are either incredibly weak (Libya) or little better than before (Egypt). I have a friend who lives in Cairo. Middle class, despised Mubarrak, despises Morsi. Islamists are the ones who have gained most from the Arab Spring.

Tunisia was the one exception where things really did seem to be improving, but in the past month or so, since a major opposition politician got assassinated, their government has been paralysed. Stability there, too, is poor.

As for whether the Libyan revolution caused the Malian civil war... it was probably the largest factor. The Tuaregs who were welcomed under Gaddafi returned to Mali with trucks full of weapons. That was never going to end well. AQIM and other Islamist forces in North Africa have strengthened significantly since weapons became freely available to anyone in Libya. Not a coincidence.

Somalia in 1991 got rid of a dictator. Didn't turn out too well there. Benghazi already tried to gain independence for Cyrenacia. I wouldn't be particularly surprised if Libya slowly fell into a Somali-like situation. Perhaps not all out civil war due to the many foreign interests, but the government losing de facto control of significant swathes of territory further away from Tripoli.