Egypt marks the second anniversary of the uprising that swept Hosni Mubarak from power with little to celebrate. Deeply divided and facing an economic crisis, the nation is bracing for more protests, but this time against a freely elected leader.
President Mohamed Mursi’s opponents plan to march to Tahrir Square today to vent anger at the new Islamist leader and his Muslim Brotherhood backers, whom they accuse of betraying the goals of the January 25 revolution that galvanised Egyptians in a display of national unity that has not been seen since.
“We don’t see it as a celebration. This will be a new revolutionary wave that will show the Brotherhood that they are not alone – that there are other forces that can stand against them,” said Ahmed Maher, founder of the April 6 – a group that helped ignite the uprising by using social media to organise.
The Brotherhood has said it will not send its supporters to Tahrir Square today – a decision that at least limits the scope for more of the unrest that has compounded Egypt’s economic troubles.
Instead, with its eye on forthcoming parliamentary polls, the electorially savvy Brotherhood is marking the anniversary with a campaign to help the poor.
With allies, it promises to send volunteers to renovate 2,000 schools, plant trees, deliver medical aid and open “charity markets” selling affordable food.
“The importance of the anniversary is to lift the spirits of the Egyptian people: more hope and more work,” said Ahmed Aref, a Muslim Brotherhood spokesman who was in Tahrir Square for the entire 18-day uprising against Mubarak.
Marking the anniversary with a big charity campaign is a classic Brotherhood tactic, demonstrating the populist impulses and organisational muscle that have swept the Islamists to five straight election victories since Mubarak fell – two for parliament, one for president and two referendums. (Reuters)