The Egyptian President Morsi was ousted yesterday (July 3) by the Army. 1 year after being elected as the first president after Jan 25 Revolution.

Is the Army taking over power in Egypt? Is Egypt turning into a Military Rule?

Yesterday, Army Chef Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi  announced the following road map:

“a- The temporary suspension of the constitution.
b- The Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court to take the constitutional oath before the SCC General Assembly.
c- To hold early presidential elections with the SCC Chief Justice being in charge of the caretaking of the State during the transitional period until a new president is elected.
d- SCC Chief Justice to be entitled to issue constitutional declarations during the transitional period.
e- To form a strong and capable national government of technocrats enjoying all authorities to manage the current period.
f- To form a commission that includes the full spectrum and experiences to revise the proposed amendments to the constitution, which is temporarily suspended.
g- To urge the Supreme Constitutional Court to expedite the approval of the draft electoral law of the House of Representatives and commence the preparatory procedures of the parliamentary elections.
h- To draw up a media code of ethics that provides for the freedom of the media and ensures professional rules, credibility, impartiality and elevation of the higher interests of the State.
i- To adopt executive measures empowering and merging youths in the State establishments to become partners in the decision-making, as assistants to ministers and governors and various executive posts.
j- To form a higher commission for national reconciliation from figures, who represent all orientations and enjoy credibility and acceptance of all national elites.”

In Simple words, a call for early presidential election has been set. Till the new President is elected The Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court to take the constitutional oath as Egypt interim Leader. To form a strong transitional National government to hold the executive power till the next elections.

Why the Army took such move?

The Army took  that step mainly as a respond for the millions of Egyptians who protested in the streets since June 30 asking Morsi to call for early presidential election (Refer to: Why Egyptians are revolting after 1 year of Elections?). President Morsi did not show any kind of response to the millions of protesters in the streets. He did not even offer to appoint a new cabinet which has been a demand from the people for months already due to its poor performance and shallow vision. Morsi was very impressive in ignoring the millions in the street and only considering what the Muslims Brotherhood is telling him to do. Due to that, on July 1st General Command of Armed Forces Abdul Fattah al-Sisi announced a 48 hours  period for all parties to resolve the crisis or he will announce a road map after consulting the people’s leaders and the Egyptian Youth. That simply meant, if Morsi did not respond to the people’s demands, the Army will take a move to force that.

The following day, in his speech, Morsi looked very nervous and he still ignored the people demand of early elections and he mentioned that he may consider appointing a new cabinet. That was totally below the aspirations of the millions of the protesters in the streets. There clear demand was to call for early elections. On July 3rd, millions of Egyptians continued to protest in the streets asking Morsi to call for early elections.

The ultimatum issued by the military expired on Wednesday afternoon (July 3) and Morsi did nothing. The Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) Called for a meeting with the People’s leaders in the streets, leaders of the 2 main political parties in Egypt including The Muslims Brotherhood party (Freedom and Justice Party) though FJ Party rejected the invitation. The SCAF also invited the religious leaders, Sheikh Al-Azhar and the Pope to attend the meeting to set the new Road Map to follow. The meeting came out with the decisions that was mentioned earlier. (The Official announcement)

Why the Army had to interfere? Why he did not let the People to do decide by themselves?

Millions of Egyptians were protesting peacefully, however Morsi did not show any kind of response. Morsi himself in his speech on July 2nd said he will defend his position with blood. The Muslims Brotherhood and the extreme Islamists who are also supporting Morsi have been repetitively announcing that they will defend Morsi with blood and they are ready to fight.

When you have a situation where Millions of Egyptians are asking peacefully the president to call for early elections and you have a president with his supporters saying they will defend his position with blood. There is no other way to save shedding bloods than the Army to take a move in a respond to the People’s demands.

What are the chances that the Army will take over power turning Egypt into a military rule?

There are concerns out there of course, however I have a different belief. I believe in the Egyptian People. In Jan 2010, millions of Egyptians marched into the streets and in 18 days they forced Mubarak to step down after 3o years of corrupting the life in Egypt.

When the power was handed temporarily to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), and they showed a slow response to the people demands in handing over the power to an Elected president. Millions of Egyptians protested in the streets and forced the SCAF to speed up with the Elections. After Morsi was elected, the Muslims Brotherhood thought that they can ignore the people again and their demands. Morsi lied about all the promised he made to the people. They did not understand that the real authority comes from the people. Now in 4 days the millions in the streets peacefully forced everyone to listen to their voices and the Army to take an action in support for that.

The current SCAF is different from the previous one and though I believe that they understood the lesson over the past 3 years with what happened with Mubarak, SCAF then now Morsi, if they did not learn then the people are the guarantee that everything should be in place. (Important Read: The Egyptian Military’s Playbook)

When the revolution started in Jan 25, 2010,  Egyptians decided to build the country on the right basis of Freedom, Justice and Dignity. It is either we accept half solutions now or we believe in the power of people and continue the struggle to build a great nation.

We started the struggle and we are not going to stop until we have leaders who respect us and who are working with the people towards an ambitious vision for the future.

What is happening in Egypt is an inspiration for the people all over the world. We must believe in ourselves. We are not to accept half solutions. We are not to accept Leaders who lie to us.

We are to believe in ourselves.