It is my firm, unwavering conviction that Egypt is protected and blessed by the Almighty God. This is a conviction I never tire of voicing, for which endless evidence abounds throughout our history and the times we live in; it fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah: “Blessed be Egypt my people” (Is 19: 25), and grants Egyptians steadfast reassurance that Egypt and its people are under the care of Divine Providence.
As the month of June concluded two days ago, Egypt celebrated 10 years on the 30 June 2013 Revolution, perceived by many Egyptians as salvation from the Islamicised rule of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). I for one, consider the 30 June Revolution by all standards a miracle that reflected Divine will to wean Egypt and her people of the myth of MB rule. Many Muslim Egyptians had for decades believed that MB rule would work to reform the corruption and failures that had long plagued Egypt, but it took no more than one year of MB rule for Egyptians to realise the truth about them. Once the so-called Arab Spring had taken hold of Egypt in February 2011, the MB started their rise to power and, in June 2012, their candidate Muhammad Mursi became President of Egypt by a narrow election margin. I own that I had never imagined the MB would lose no time to expose their real intentions with a series of preposterous practices and declarations. They started with the announcement that once they were in power they would never surrender it in even 500 years; and another equally outrageous declaration that those who do not belong to their group would not be allowed to partake in leading the nation. Secure in their power, they started islamising Egypt’s State institutions in a scandalous attempt to strip Egypt of her national, cultural and civilisational identity, giving precedence to Islamic identity. This horrified Egyptians one and all, especially that the trend not only targeted Copts, but extended to all Egyptians, including Muslims who were not in agreement with the MB agenda. The outcome was that one lone year under MB gave Egyptians a first-hand glimpse of the reality of MB rule. You see what I mean when I say that I could clearly see God’s wisdom in empowering the MB for a year so that Egyptians would be weaned once and for all from the myth of their “Allah-inspired” rule?
Before I review “Egypt after 30 June”, let me cite one of the most powerful, unforgettable manifestations of Isaiah’s “Blessed be my people Egypt”. I speak of the conspiracies woven against the Middle East during the last three decades, aiming at fragmenting and destroying strong countries and peoples of ancient civilisations: Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and now Sudan. These conspiracies rely on the tried and tested formula of stirring ethnic and sectarian conflict, and encouraging the creation of armed militias. Let no one please think that our Egypt was spared these conspiracies; it was and still is on top of the list, with the aim of breaking and destroying it. Yet miraculously, God’s Hand protected Egypt against the fall, protected the unity of its people, and protected the sovereignty of its army. So much so, that I can say that those conspiring against Egypt almost lost their minds at the failure of their satanic schemes.
Today, I present an honourable record commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 30 June Revolution, which Watani publishes in detail in this issue. The revolution of the millions upon millions of Egyptians who took to the streets nationwide in 2013 to demand an end to MB rule, the MB President Mursi’s belligerent rejection of the people’s demands, the army’s intervention to avert civil war, and the transition of power temporarily on 3 July 2013 to Interim President Adly Mansour who was head of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, were all the first steps that led to Egypt’s new republic and its 10-year achievements, reforms and development that is still ongoing; they should all remain alive in Egyptian national memory and Egyptians self-esteem.
Thanks to the efforts of the Egyptian presidency and diplomacy, Egypt has duly earned back her international stature and regional power within the Arab, African and international spheres. It is not possible to overlook the wisdom and shrewdness of the Egyptian political leadership in developing, fostering and affirming international relations with the world’s superpowers, including the US, EU, Russia and China, however divergent their stances, in a way that preserved strategic relations and established Egypt’s role as a partner to secure peace and stability in the region.
During the past ten years, Egypt’s ties with the African continent kept growing. This was not restricted to Egypt’s leadership of the African Union in 2019; but extended to its adoption of a number of political, economic, health, and cultural initiatives in Africa. Egypt established the African Union Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development, and launched the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development. This has been part and parcel of Egypt’s assiduous African effort that aims at restoring calm in Sudan through ending the armed conflict shattering the country; also to insist on reaching a peaceful solution with Ethiopia regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Inside Egypt, the launching of the National Dialogue remains one of the most important outcomes of the June 30 Revolution. This is a comprehensive dialogue that freely discusses various national issues; it has garnered wide participation from all sectors of Egyptians, while excluding those who practised violence or incited against Egypt and her people. The National Dialogue activities took off last May, one year after President Sisi called for a “dialogue between all political forces without exception or discrimination to find common grounds on priority political, social, and economic issues”.
Among the most important achievements was the launching of the largest social protection project, in parallel with subsidising and financing goods and services to reach families in need, which have been surveyed and registered through the State funded programmes Takaful w Karama (literally Solidarity and Dignity) and Hayat Karima (Decent Life).
The empowerment of young people in political work and the launching of serious programmes to train and qualify them for leadership of various institutions have been among the most remarkable achievements. Notable initiatives and activities included the Year of Youth, youth conferences, World Youth Form, the presidential programme for qualifying youth for leadership, and the National Training Academy.
Egyptian women too had their fair share, their dignity restored as essential partners on the political, economic and social levels. This yielded several firsts: appointment of women to judicial positions in the State Council and the Public Prosecution. Legislation was passed to protect women’s rights, including the inheritance law; allocating 25 per cent of Cabinet positions to women; and women’s participation in parliament rising up to 15 per cent of the seats. Ambassador Fayza Abul-Naga was appointed the first female National Security Advisor to the President.
Copts have been restituted as partners in the homeland. The concept of citizenship was rooted in the Constitution, securing absolute equality among Egyptians. Affirmative quota systems and wider nomination of Copts in parliamentary elections yielded unprecedented results: Copts secured 53 seats in parliament. The law of building, restoration and licensing churches in Egypt was passed in 2016, putting an end to long centuries of injustice on this score.
Border governorates, especially Sinai, earned the full force of a plan to combat infiltration by terrorists. Once they were purged of terrorists, the government proceeded with ambitious development plans on the urban, economic and social levels.
Seeing all that, I cannot help but repeat with full conviction and pride, that the 30 June 2013 Revolution is a manifestation of Isaiah’s prophecy: “Blessed be Egypt my people”.
Watani International
2 July 2023