by Ramsey Kincannon, Senior Staff Writer
After many twists and turns, the people of Egypt are free of a dictator and a national hero. Hosni Mubarak was initially loved by the people of Egypt for his strong front against Israel during a 1973 war between the two countries, so much so that he was appointed by Anwar Sadat to be his vice president in 1975. After Sadat’s assassination, Mubarak was appointed president of Egypt in 1981.
Initially Mubarak helped Egypt in the international realm (rejoining the Arab League, for instance) and also helped Egypt work out† its major debt, his economic plans eventually failed. Furthermore, Mubarak’s party had become a symbol for corruption by the ’90s, with secret police carrying out torturous acts. Additionally, Mubarak kept Egypt’s Emergency Law in place ó including a suspension of all constitutional rights ó which further outraged many Egyptians.
Inspired by the successful uprising in Tunisia, important activists like Wael Ghonim and Asmaa Mahfouz (a woman who created a viral video encouraging people to protest) started spreading the message to the people of Egypt that it was time to overthrow Mubarak. On Jan. 25, the people of Egypt started a revolution.
Though the main protests occured in Tahrir Square in Cairo, people flooded the streets in Alexandria, Suez, Mansoura and many other regions throughout Egypt, demanding a democratic ruler be elected.
The Egyptian police initially responded with violence, but three days after the protests started the “Day of Rage” consumed Egypt, with many of the protests turning violent. Many feared that this violent wave would set back the pro-Democratic movement, however, protestors and Egyptian police clung together in order to defend against museum looting. This proved to be a turning point during the revolution, as Mubarak told the police and the army to start using live ammunition to quell the revolution, but was rejected by Mohammad Tantawi (Egypt’s Minister of Defense) saying that the army was “to protect the people.”
From then on, Mubarak’s days in office were numbered. Demonstrations became more peaceful ó people even starting picking up trash in the streets ó and Mubarak started to prepare an exit strategy. Although he first declared that he would not seek reelection later that year and promised constitutional reform, his attempt to stay in power was rejected. Then, he tried to find party loyalists (like VP Omar Suleiman) to replace him so he could step down but still keep some power. Party loyalists starting protesting, openly fighting against the anti-Mubarak protestors.
As protests raged on, Mubarak ultimately decided to leave office on Feb. 11 ó a day that coincides with Nelson Mandela’s release from jail 21 years earlier. From there, the Egyptian army has taken control, and promised a six-month plan in which power would be transferred to a new, democratically elected government.
This leaves Egypt and much of the world in an unknown situation. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called Mubarak a “force for good,” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu asked U.S. and European allies to support Mubarak during the protests. These countries now have to start a mending process with the new Egyptian government. Internally, Egypt is on a precarious perch, trying to usher in a new government while trying to avoid extremist ideology. Since there was no individual face of the revolution, a new leader must step up and reform Egyptian government. Groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the Wafd party have attempted to lead, but aren’t being met with overwhelming support.
Since the success of the Egyptian revolution, protests have spawned throughout the Middle East, in countries like Yemen, Bahrain, Algeria and Iran. During a press conference,† President Barack Obama said that Egypt “would never be the same,” and this is true for many of the countries in the Middle East. Tunisia has already had a successful revolution, and many are hopeful that these protests will lead to a true democratic presence in the Middle East ó after all, a similar revolt led to the founding of the United States.
(All information is from The Washington Post, Reuters, and The Daily Telegraph).