The mysterious death of a tycoon had readers sitting on the edge of their seats, write Gamal Nkrumah and Mohamed El-Sayed The African Union (AU) summit, which convened in the Ghanaian capital Accra, dominated the headlines of most of the papers this week. The high-powered Egyptian delegation led by President Hosni Mubarak was noted by many columnists. Editor-in-Chief of the national daily Al-Ahram Osama Saraya, writing from the Ghanaian capital, reported that Mubarak held discussions on pressing African concerns with several African leaders in Accra. Saraya also stressed Mubarak's view of a so- called United States of Africa, as proposed by the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Mubarak, Saraya noted, was keen on African unity, however, he warned that such unity cannot be rushed or created overnight. "African unity necessitates a concerted effort from all African countries. Unity can only be founded on firm foundations and a proper methodology." The president also noted that the African regional economic groupings must be strengthened so that trade and economic relations between African countries can improve, Saraya reported. The president also stressed the Africaness of Egypt in no uncertain terms. Al-Ahram 's editorial on Monday paid tribute to Egypt's role as a mediator in African conflicts and underlined the country's determination to participate in peacekeeping and conflict resolution activities in Africa. It especially noted Egypt's dispatch of peacekeeping forces in southern Sudan and Somalia. "Africa has been one of the most important and vital of our interests since the 1952 Revolution," the paper noted. In a full-page report about the AU summit, the paper covered the heated debate concerning the proposed African Union government and the implications of a United States of Africa, a difficult task of enormous and far-reaching proportions. On a completely different note, the controversy surrounding female genital mutilation (FGM) surfaced once again following the death of 12-year-old Bodour. Pundits debated the issue and tensions were running high. Nawal El-Saadawi, writing in the daily independent Al-Masry Al-Yom, and in characteristic caustic remarks, has led the campaign to ban FGM. The writer herself went through the traumatic experience at a tender age. She wrote several books about the health complications caused by FGM. Last week, in the wake of Bodour's death, FGM became officially banned -- previously it was only partially illegal, depending on the case -- much to the jubilation of women like El-Saadawi. "There are a lot of children who have died at the hands of barbers in rural areas and doctors in towns. But the death of these children sinks into oblivion as it is not highlighted in the media, as was the case with [the victim of FGM] Bodour," El-Saadawi raged. She did not mince her words. "Must [the authorities] in Egypt wait until another child dies as Bodour did before banning the circumcision of male children?" Indeed, she evoked the emotions of readers reminding them of the tragedy of the young victim of FGM whose grievous end outraged the public. "I call upon the family of Bodour to make the death of their daughter a flame to enlighten the minds [of the ignorant people who believe in circumcision]. They should cry out loud and not leave her death to sink into oblivion whatever the threats or the lures," El-Saadawi insisted. Also writing in Al-Masry Al-Yom and in much the same vein, Sahar El-Mougi decried the evils of FGM. "Squarely facing this phenomenon necessitates a serious debate over the eradication of this old, vile tradition from our culture... Raising awareness is not enough, for it needs a change of culture that implanted this habit and still firmly believes in it in spite of a number of religious verdicts prohibiting it." On an equally sombre note, Said Abdel-Khalek, writing in the daily opposition mouthpiece of Al-Wafd Party, Al-Wafd, speculated about the mysterious death of big businessman Ashraf Marawan, former aide to president Anwar El-Sadat. "We have to admit that he was loyal to his country as he worked with two different presidents -- Gamal Abdel-Nasser and Anwar El-Sadat. Also President Hosni Mubarak, one of the celebrated heroes of the 6 October War, shook hands with Marawan at the mausoleum of Nasser during celebrations marking the victory in 2004," Abdel-Khalek noted. "If there was something suspicious about Marawan's life, Mubarak wouldn't have shook his hand," he explained. Again, Abdel-Khalek added that the close personal friendship between Marawan, who also worked as an agent for Egyptian General Intelligence, and the Mubarak family was proof of his innocence. "Marawan and his wife Mona Abdel-Nasser (Abdel-Nasser's daughter) were among the precious few invitees to Gamal Mubarak's wedding ceremony in Sharm El-Sheikh, a celebration to which many of the state's senior officials and ministers were not invited." Along these same lines, Makram Mohamed Ahmed writing in the daily Al-Ahram about the mystery of Marawan's death, called upon the authorities to tell the true story. He urged the government to clear Marawan's name. "Perhaps the time has come to reveal the true story of Ashraf Marawan and the Mossad to defend the controversial man who certainly did great services for Egyptian national security." President Mubarak was keen to honour Marawan. Al-Ahram quoted him as saying: "Ashraf Marawan is an honest patriot who offered great services to Egypt." "What is rumoured, that he spied for Israel, is totally unfounded." Marawan was found dead last week after falling to his death from a fifth floor balcony in his residence in London. He apparently slipped but conspiracy theorists say he was pushed. On a more predictable note, pro-government newspapers like Al-Gomhuriya sang the praises of the ruling National Democratic Party's Policies Committee led by Gamal Mubarak for formulating a vision of Cairo in 2050. Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, editor-in-chief of Al-Gomhuriya, was full of praise for the NDP's plans for Cairo but stressed that the attitudes of Cairenes towards their own city must change. "The problems of Cairo are here to stay. The problem is that people don't feel that there is a problem for they have gotten used to the pavements occupied by street vendors and cars... people believe that Cairo is okay under such conditions, thinking that any change or adapting of their behaviour will be at the expense of their traditions and habits," Ibrahim wrote. What is needed, he stressed, was a change of heart and not simply a change of rules and regulations. "The problems and challenges facing the 2050 vision of Cairo are related to the disagreeable behaviour of Cairenes. This behaviour will not be changed by plans or modern means of transportation. Rather, it must be changed by the enforcement of strict laws."
