Egypt partners with Google to promote 'unmatched diversity' tourism campaign    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Taiwan GDP surges on tech demand    World Bank: Global commodity prices to fall 17% by '26    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    UNFPA Egypt, Bayer sign agreement to promote reproductive health    Egypt to boost marine protection with new tech partnership    France's harmonised inflation eases slightly in April    Eygpt's El-Sherbiny directs new cities to brace for adverse weather    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Egypt's Al-Mashat urges lower borrowing costs, more debt swaps at UN forum    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



The army is back
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 24 - 01 - 2011

Now is not the first time that the army has ruled Egypt, writes Salah Eissa*
Having stepped down, president Hosni Mubarak left the Higher Council of the Armed Forces in charge. It is not the first time the army has found itself in this position.
The Egyptian army was founded in 1820 by Mohamed Ali, who made it the centrepiece in his project to modernise Egypt. His primary aim was to replace the ragtag militia led by Mamluk chieftains, which Napoleon had thoroughly defeated, with a European-style outfit. Egypt's new ruler proceeded to send the sons of peasants to Europe to learn military arts. He also dispatched dozens of students to study medicine, pharmacology, accounting, management and engineering abroad. These were the men who would later on run the various facilities he established, among which were factories for guns, gunpowder, textiles, ships, sugar, etc.
With his modern army, Mohamed Ali fought successful wars in Higaz, Sudan, Greece, Syria, and Turkey. His grandson, Khedive Ismail, sent his troops to Sudan, Ethiopia, Higaz, Crete and the Balkans. Before Mohamed Ali, Egyptians were not permitted to carry arms. Only the Mamluks who were in charge of the country under Ottoman rule were allowed to make, sell, buy and bear weapons.
Eighty years later, Ahmed Orabi, a son of peasants, led a military mutiny demanding more control for locals over the army and an end to foreign control of the country. The nation rallied around Orabi, but the revolt was short-lived.
Just as Mohamed Ali lost his bid to turn Egypt into a superpower when European countries ganged up against him, and just as his grandson, Ismail, was removed from power because of his modernising ambitions, Orabi was defeated when the British occupied Egypt and crushed his forces.
A civilian revolt in 1919 eclipsed the role of the army for a while. Then the army made a comeback in 1952. Just as was the case under Orabi, the Free Officers owed their ranks to a shift in policy that allowed more middle class Egyptians to join the army. The shift in policy was partly due to the 1936 treaty that relaxed British control of the army and partly because the British thought they may need a larger Egyptian army ahead of World War II.
It was only a matter of months before the Revolutionary Command Council, formed by the Free Officers to run the country after the 1952 Revolution, split on the question of democracy. Some members wanted to reinstate civilian rule, whereas others wanted a "benevolent despot" to lead the country's march towards progress. Things came to a head in March 1954, with the pro-democracy officers defeated. Most were either jailed or given non- political desk jobs.
With the election of Gamal Abdel-Nasser as president in 1956, the army disappeared from public view, but it hovered in the wings. Nasser, Egypt's version of a "benevolent despot", shared power with his best friend, Abdel-Hakim Amer, an ambitious man who was popular among the troops. Amer was so powerful that he refused to dismiss his military commanders who brought about the 1956 defeat and who were largely blamed for the separation of Syria from Egypt in 1961, after a unity that lasted for three years. Having led the country into its worse military defeat ever in 1967, Amer clung on to power, threatening to oust Nasser. He was taken prisoner and died in custody, allegedly by his own hand.
Thereafter Nasser tried to restructure the army, turning it into a professional institution and keeping it out of politics. Nasser's successor, Anwar El-Sadat, tried to take the country further away from military control by introducing a semblance of political pluralism. His hope was that civilian political forces would act as a buffer and keep the army at bay.
Still, there is no denying that since 1952 the army has had a say in various political decisions in the country. And now that Mubarak has stepped down, the army is back at the helm. Does this seem like déjà vu?
* The writer is editor-in-chief of Al-Qahera weekly newspaper.


Clic here to read the story from its source.