Tag Archives: Egypt

March 29, 2011

Bashir says it with cows…

Supporters of the Egyptian revolution will be glad to know that Omar Al-Bashir, president of Sudan and supporter of democracy everywhere (except Darfur, South Sudan, East Sudan, eastern Chad, Eritrea, northern Uganda…you get the picture) has given the Egyptian revolution … Continue reading →

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March 4, 2011

Egypt’s river dries up as Burundi joins Nile Basin Initiative

In the midst of the chaos across the Middle East, has no one noticed that Egypt has just lost control of its most significant and valuable resource? No, not oil – not everything’s about oil, and besides, Egypt doesn’t have … Continue reading →

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February 17, 2011

Better a king than a president in the Middle East

In the end, titles are important, especially if you are a despotic Middle Eastern ruler. A quick survey shall illustrate: Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria, Libya: all run by Presidents-for-life. The protests which have rocked/are rocking these countries, while very different … Continue reading →

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February 12, 2011

He’s gone.

18 days that changed Egypt forever, on the Daily Maverick. Verdict: Mubarak goes 4th, finally. Egypt goes forth into a whole new chapter.

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February 11, 2011

Surely this must be the endgame

The people are out in bigger numbers than ever before; the protesters will not be able to fit into Tahrir Square, and are targeting the State TV building and possibly the Presidential Palace. The army is  showing signs of fracture, with reports of some … Continue reading →

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February 6, 2011

Playing the numbers game: why America’s money is irrelevant to Mubarak

So Hosni Mubarak is worth US$70 billion, according to the Guardian. This puts all the hubbub about American aid money made by many commentators (myself included) into perspective. Let’s do some maths. $70 billion (Mubarak’s fortune) ÷ $1.5 billion (US aid … Continue reading →

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February 4, 2011

So far, Mubarak still has the upper hand

For more on my encounter with a purple-shirted sabre-wielder, and how Nelson Mandela prevented my arrest, see here: http://www.thedailymaverick.co.za/article/2011-02-04-millions-defy-mubaraks-sabre-rattling-to-march-on-the-day-of-departure. My quick verdict on the day. Mubarak has played it very well. He’s let the protests happen, he’s minimised violence, and he’s … Continue reading →

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February 4, 2011

The Day of Reckoning

The calm before the storm. Even in a revolution, Cairo does not wake up early, especially not on a Friday morning. The streets are calm but the atmosphere is tense; this is the Day of Departure, as the opposition have … Continue reading →

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February 3, 2011

Downtown Cairo in lockdown

The area around Tahrir Square is in lockdown today. The violence has shifted from the square itself to the streets leading to it. Most entrances to the downtown area are sealed off by groups of pro-Mubarak supporters, and the one … Continue reading →

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February 2, 2011

Tahrir Square

It is nine thirty in Cairo, and I am in an internet cafe with bright lights, foreigners, cold drinks on demand and some flamenco music in the background. My head can’t really cope with the sheer normalcy of it all. … Continue reading →

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