When Egypt’s Arab Spring ended over fifteen years ago, many changes occurred regarding its political and social standing. A country previously dominated by harsh rule overthrew a leader with an iron fist, sparking the attention of world leaders and global civilians. However, what started as a noble cause and push toward justice for the Egyptian people ended in shambles, as Egypt still faces adversity linked to social unrest, political abuse, and censorship.
Since the anti-government protests in December of 2010, Egypt has gone in circles, concerning the future of governmental power. As stated by CBC, A military council took charge of the nation post-fall of President Hosni Mubarak, which led to the election of President Mohammed Morsi from the Muslim Brotherhood – a Sunni Islamist organization founded in Egypt that facilitated the birth of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Al-Qaeda – many more counter-revolutionary protests, and the wholesale killing of more than hundreds of individuals at a Muslim Brotherhood sit-in in August of 2013. The Egyptian protests were documented to have spread into the neighboring countries of Libya and Syria, instigating a deadly civil war responsible for the deaths and displacement of many thousands of people.
Due to the Arab Spring and its attaining popularity through social media – where people posted announcements on the issue to raise global support – a mass censorship movement has been enacted by the new Egyptian government to prevent seditious acts by regular civilians. According to Aspenia Online, Egypt has become one of the world’s top jailers of reporters, journalists, and human rights defenders, and many of them are charged with terrorism or treason. The country’s grip on cyberspace and intolerance for political dissent exhibits the absence of the true democracy that the Egyptian people hoped for when protesting in the late 2010s. Furthermore, the impacts of COVID-19 on Egypt have been monumental, as it has worsened pre-existing vulnerabilities in the region’s social infrastructure. The divide between the poor and the elite is considerably more distinct, as well as the lack of proper healthcare, the instability in the economy, and the civil tensions in the area.
As of now, Egypt is ruled by former military officer Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who regulates his country as an authoritarian. Between the humanitarian crises and political unrest occurring in the region at this time, it is difficult to predict the state-to-be of the country. At this time, Egypt’s prosperity depends upon the actions of its allies around the world, and how they will work cohesively to benefit those in need.
Written by Alexandra Kwitkowski
