Egypt

During 18 days, from the 25th of January until the 11th of February, mass demonstrations demanding democracy take place in Egypt. This 18 Day Resolution ends with the resignation of President Mubarak.

Origin of the conflict

After the mass protests in Tunesia and the ousting of its president, Egypt was by many seen as the next country where such a revolution would take place. Another catalyst for the protests is the death of Khaled Saeed, a young Egyptian who died under disputed circumstances after being arrested by the police. The Facebook group ‘We are all Khaled Saeed’ forms a community of people opposing the police brutality. 

Grievances

The main reasons for the Egyptian protesters are legal and political issues, such as police brutality, state of emergency laws, lack of free elections, lack of freedom of speaach, uncontrollable corrption. Economic issues are also important, such as high unemployment in the country, inflations of food prices and low minimum wages. 

Chronological timeline

  • January 17: A man set himself ablaze in front of the Egyptian parliament, because of the rising discontent with the country’s state and the poor living conditions. About five other attempts of self-immolations will follow.
  • January 25: Protests start in several Egyptian cities; the capital Cairo, Alexandria and Suez. Police forces intervene and three people are killed. A curfew is announced; however it is not obeyed by the protesters.
    Januari 28: At least 24 people are killed and more than 1000 hurt in clashes. The curfew is extended to all cities.
  • January 29: Mubarak makes his first public appearance on national television in which he fires his government and appoints Omar Suleiman, the unpopular former head of Secret Service, vice president.
  • February 1: Mubarak announces that he will step down before the elections in September. the protestors, however, are not satisfied and demand his immediate resignation. Protests continue and Mubarak supporters draw to the Tahrir square provoking fights. Nonetheless, around  million Egyptians protest around the country.
  • February 10: Mubarak addresses the nation again. Against all expectations, he does not announce his resignation, enraging the people even more and increasing protests in all of the country.
  • Februari 11: President Hosni Mubarak steps down. His powers will be taken over by the army. The hundreds of thousands of people in the Tahrir Square celebrate the news with a massive outburst of joy. 

Response of the international community

In general, reactions have been supportive to the Egyptian protesterd. Most government ans organisations called for non-violent reponses on both sides and a peacefeul move towards reform.
The Egyptian Revolution, along with the Tunesian events, has influences other protests, duch as those in Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan and Libya.
US President Barack Obama sees the resignation of Mubarak as the start of Egypt's transformation. He called on the military to lift the state of emergeny and to prepare for free and fair elections. The Moslim Brotherhood leader said Egyptians had made history.

About President Mubarak

The former president of Egypt, Mohammed Hosni Said Mubarak, started his career as a pilot in the Egyptian air force. In 1975 he is appointed vice president by the then Egyptian president Saddat. On the 14th of October 1981 Saddat is assassinated by Islamic extremists during a military parade. Mubarak, only lightly wounded by the attack, assumes presidency. Mubarak is to remain president for the next thirty years. During his regime Egypt is under a perpetual state of emergency, used by Mubarak to fight extremists as well as his political opponents. As a consequence however, anger and the number of attacks against his regime increase.
Mubarak is also considered as a peacemaker in the Middle East; during his presidency he respected the Egyptian peace agreement with Israel and has continuously promoted Arab-Israeli peace negotiations. Most of the Egyptian people however, hold Mubarak responsible for corruption, poverty and unemployment in the country.
Thanks to the army and the secret service, Mubarak remains firmly in charge. Elections are often contested; however, accusations of fraud are dismissed by the president. Mubarak enjoys considerable international support, most notably from the United States, which supports Egypt, and especially the Egyptian army, with billions of dollars in order to sustain a stable regime in an unstable region.  

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