Egypt’s Abdel Fattal al-Sisi on Sunday paid homage to the strength of character of his compatriots for their role in his June 30 revolution which removed now late president Mohamed Morsi from power in 2013.
June 30th may mean different things to Egyptians depending on where they are on the political divide.
Morsi’s supporters still believe that it was the worst political development to happen to Egypt after its citizens risked everything including their lives by turning up at Tahrir Square en masse to bring about change.
al-Sisi’s backers see him as a stable hand on Egypt’s political saddle and therefore deserves some praise for bringing a semblannce of normalcy and stability to the once protest-prone North African country.
The former army general now 69, was largely seen as a man of ‘revolutionary taste’ and his role in the removal of Morsi vindicated inventors of the term to describe his political inclination.
The revolution led to al-Sisi’s eventual rise to power through a coup, taking advantage of widespread disaffection with Morsi who had been elected president a year earlier.
The North African country had negotiated a shaky political transition after the change brought by the first Arab Spring which swept through North Africa and the Middle East in the 2010s and brought down leaders like Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.
Morsi, who belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood became Egypt’s democratically elected president following a successful transition to democratic rule shortly afterwards.
However, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was to seize power on June 30th following weeks of street demonstrations, some calling for Mr Morsi to step down.
A lot has passed under the proverbial bridge since then, with Morsi dying in jail in 2019 and al-Sisi becoming elected as the country’s leader.
Paying homage to the ‘glorious 30th June revolution, which brought him to power al-Sisi describes it as the wellspring from which the strength of the Egyptian people and their strong sense of belonging to their country, and their identity was tapped.
”Eleven years ago, the Egyptian people proved that they were far stronger than their enemies could ever imagine and far more resilient than those who sought to undermine our nation with their dark terrorism” he says.
The Arab Spring which preceded Al-Sisi’s rise, provided one of the first big breaks to gauge the strength of social media in mobilising support for political movements which eventually toppled kleptocratic leaders in North Africa and the Middle East between 2009 and 2011.
”Today, the Egyptian people stand as shining examples of determination, solidarity, and unwavering resolve to surmount crises and transform them into opportunities and successes. A great salute to the Egyptian people, its Armed Forces and police, and all those who excel in every field” al-Sisi adds.
”On this momentous occasion, I renew my pledge to you and reaffirm that Egypt will never relinquish its determination to overcome all challenges” he concludes.
WN/as/APA