Post-Mubarak Egypt still finding its way
Egypt : The spectacular uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak a year ago
turned the political order upside down in Egypt where the former ruler
is now in jail and once-oppressed Islamists in parliament, but for most
Egyptians the grievances remain unchanged.
Mubarak's unshakeable three-decade rule crumbled under the weight of
18 days of unprecedented street protests, forcing the strongman to
resign on February 11 last year and prompting a wave of collective
euphoria.
The uprising pumped energy into the country: political parties were
formed, debates whirred everywhere and power was handed over to a
military council that vowed to pave the way to democracy and swiftly
return to the barracks.
For the first time in decades, Egyptians felt they had a stake in the
country's future. "Egypt will never be the same," proclaimed US
President Barack Obama the day Mubarak fell. But a year later, the
jubilation has given way to frustration and anger as political dissent
continues to be stifled, corruption still prevails and price hikes pile
pressure on households.
"Mubarak may have left, but the two pillars of his regime, a strong
police state and an unjust economic system, remain in place," said Rabab
al-Mahdi, a political science professor at the American University in
Cairo.
But the very same two factors are what is driving the revolution
forward, she told AFP. Protesters who embraced the military as
supporters of the revolution have turned their anger against the ruling
Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which they accuse of mismanaging
the transition and seeking to retain a degree of power.
Demonstrators have been taking to the streets for months to demand
the ouster of the military ruler, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi,
Mubarak's longtime defence minister who is now in charge of the country.
They accuse the army of human rights violations, violence against
protesters and sowing instability to justify its position at the top of
the political ladder.
Mahdi concedes there is a long way to go to achieving the goals of
the revolution of freedom and social justice but admits "there have been
many changes." The uprising brought the first court appearance of an
autocratic leader toppled by the Arab Spring protests.
Mubarak, his interior minister and six security chiefs are facing
trial for their involvement in the killing of protesters during the
uprising. His two sons Gamal and Alaa -- symbols of power and wealth--
are also behind bars with a host of former ministers and officials on
charges of corruption. AFP
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