Friday, January 28, 2011
Editorial

If the eyes of the world are now being directed at Egypt and the unrest that has shaken the country, people should not be surprised – the last few years have seen indications of the profound discontent in the land of the Nile. Naturally, Egypt has not seen anything resembling the scope of protests that have broken out around the country. For now, the casualties have been kept to a minimum, with the police shying away from using live ammunition against the demonstrators.

It is no exaggeration to say the world is monitoring both the developments, and the likely ramifications.
Egypt stands squarely in the Arab world but is also a key player in Africa. It acts as a gateway between continents, and many regions might be shaken if something dramatic takes place. The developments in Egypt will reverberate around the region, and it’s clear that the demonstrators against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak have an easily identifiable demand: change.

The longer that rulers avoid change, the worse the situation will become, since change is inevitable. People have been eager to draw parallels with Tunisia, which earlier this month ousted its long-time ruler. Unlike Tunisia, the discontent in Egypt had been rising quite obviously, even if it was not on everyone’s radar.

The grievances are well-known: politically, people have been demanding the right to express themselves, and chafing at the long-time state of emergency, along with the near-monopoly on power by the ruling National Democratic Party. The socio-economic situation has involved huge levels of frustration for the average citizen. All of Egypt appears to be unsettled, especially the country’s youth who see no light at the end of the tunnel. Some of the thousands of high school and university graduates who emerge each year from the educational system may get lucky and find a job, but the reality is many must eke out a living at home or travel abroad to the Gulf, for example, where they do menial work.

Traditionally, Egyptians have been known to be tolerant and placid in the face of such conditions, but there comes a time when all patience is simply exhausted.

No one should suggest that foreign parties are behind the unrest. Egyptians, of whatever class or social standing, might have plenty to disagree about among themselves, but their patriotism is a red line. The dissent is home-grown, and if it remains unaddressed, the explosion will come, sooner or later.

The government’s timid moves thus far, offering dialogue to its critics, may be a case of too little, too late. Tunisia experienced the same reaction by its former regime, and if anything can be learned from that experience, it is that authorities must embrace true change, and not just cosmetic measures. Otherwise, only a series of unpalatable and dangerous developments await.