The year 2018 was a much better year than the past seven when it comes to security, political turbulence and social upheaval. However, we still have a long way to go before Egypt makes it onto the Most Peaceful Countries in the World list of the Institute for Economics and Peace. Egypt did figure on another list, the Global Terrorism Index, largely as a result of an attack by an Islamic State (IS)-affiliated group on the Al-Rawda Mosque in Northern Sinai, killing some 311 people and making it the deadliest attack in Egyptian history. Egypt's name on the list of the top ten countries paying a heavy price for terrorism goes back to 2017. In 2018, the war Egypt has been fighting against terrorism has been finally coming to an end. Many Egyptians still believe that it is best to play your cards close to your chest, however, and they have not wanted to show any complacency in this regard. The Western media has seen every terrorist attack in Egypt over the past five years or so in the light of the so-called “military coup that overthrew democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi.” That same media has ignored reports from Northern Sinai indicating that residents of the area, recalling the days when IS militants operated with impunity, have been enjoying stability and peace over the past year. Much has happened over the past year in terms of terrorism and the need for major reforms in religious discourse. The fourth anniversary of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi's call upon Al-Azhar for a renewal of religious discourse falls in January, but earlier years saw little progress in modernising or reforming religious discourse and the issuing of fatwas, or Islamic religious rulings. This changed in 2018, even if Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's most prestigious religious institution, still showed few signs of reform. What changed is an increasing pressure among many Egyptians to see such reform take place. The end of the year saw a series of controversial religious speeches, among them one from Sheikh Khaled Al-Guindi, described as a “moderate” preacher, yet one who firmly adheres to centuries-old interpretations of the Quran. He took millions of Egyptians by surprise when he said that those who go to Paradise after death will not have sexual intercourse. Al-Guindi went on to say that in Paradise there would also be no sexual organs. The need for further religious reform will continue in 2019. With this comes the flourishing of a still-small, but strengthening, trend for greater secularism. Rowing against the tide of the Islamism that has swept Egypt, the voices of enlightenment can be heard growing louder and louder. Yet, there was also a political vacuum in 2018. Egypt's political parties have in many cases become quiescent, and there has been a growing apathy towards politics. 2018 was not the year of popular political momentum. Many people retreated to their sofas, coffee shops and conversations about the cost of living and state of the economy without wanting to stray into politics. Owing to the cuts in fuel subsidies and the rise in the prices of electricity, water and public transport, the majority of Egyptians find themselves in a state of economic worry. Political worries ranked low on the list in 2018, though retreating from politics will not guarantee social peace and justice. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), over the next five years around 3.5 million young Egyptians are projected to join the labour force. Absorbing these new entrants will be a challenge, but not absorbing them will be a threat. Fortunately, the push for a stronger and more vigilant private sector and a reform of the educational system in 2018 has led to signs of a more-inclusive Egypt. The past year was also a more-inclusive one for Egyptians with disabilities. In April 2017, Al-Sisi declared 2018 to be the Year of People with Special Needs, and a law issued earlier this year guarantees the government's commitment to the rights of people with special needs, including access to education, work and public facilities. The state also introduced new healthcare services in 2018. The first and largest-ever screening of millions for the Hepatitis C virus took place, since Egypt has the highest rate of Hepatitis C in the world, killing an estimated 40,000 people annually. One in ten people may carry the virus, and the state screened 15.5 million people as part of a presidential initiative called “100 Million Healthy Lives” aiming to eliminate the virus. Those testing positive will undergo further check-ups and receive free medication. The past year also saw moves to tackle population growth. A few weeks before its end, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli said that starting in January 2019 the beneficiaries of the cash-transfer Takaful (solidarity) programme would be limited to two children instead of the earlier three for eligible families. With Egypt's baby boom continuing to boom, the decision might help direct the limited funds available to more families or convince the baby boomers to slow down a bit. Fresh air from the desert also breezed into 2018 under the temporary name of Egypt's New Administrative Capital. This city, which became reality in 2018, aims to house 6.5 million people and cover an area of 270 million square metres east of Cairo and away from the current capital and its 19 million inhabitants living almost on top of one other. For the past seven years, Egyptians have been hoping for a better year to follow the last one. From political upheaval, to tempestuous change, to threats of civil war thanks to Political Islam, over the past year Egyptians have continued to suffer. However, they have also experienced hopes for stability, security and a better tomorrow, and these will continue into 2019 with fewer economic pressures, more political space and deeper peace of mind.
