After 17 days of mass uprisings in Cairo and in other cities across Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak has given ground for a power-sharing arrangement but refuses to leave office. He is hoping to position his vice president Omar Suleiman as the new face of his regime. But protestors have rejected this idea by maintaining their presence in Tahrir Square. Protestors also know that to stop now would almost certainly mean that they would be picked off in the privacy of their own homes by pro-government forces.
Opposition leader, Mohamed ElBaradei, is moving to create a government-in-waiting to avoid a power vacuum that would lead to greater chaos and civil war between rival factions in their bid for power.
As this Shakespearean tragedy plays out, the military’s chief of staff, Sami Anan announced that he would safeguard the lives of protestors according to the NY Times. This announcement could herald an army-controlled interim government but how many protestors will be pleased at that thought?
Here the tragedy is that a leader over-stays their welcome, often by decades. The telltale signs are that the country looses democratic and economic ground and the divisions between rich and poor grow wider.
As Maureen Dowd from the NY Times notes “Cleopatra’s Egypt was modern in ancient times and Mubarak’s Egypt is ancient in modern times.” Fortunately Egyptians know their history and are proud of it. That’s why a grass-roots human chain surrounded the Museum during the earlier chaotic demonstrations to prevent looting of their ancient treasures.
Egypt is not only an Arab country playing a pivotal role in the Middle East but also an African country. Autocrats across the region and the continent are taking note.
Here is a lesson – a strong government has a strong opposition to keep affairs of state in check. Power vacuums are scary – look at Somalia – it has yet to emerge as a country after 20 years of anarchy. Fortunately Egypt is a different country with an articulate intelligent public – even through the teargas.