18 June 2013
As Morsi is about to reach the one year anniversary of his Presidency criticism of him is on the rise, with not only secular opponents voicing their frustrations but the Salafi Nour Party joining in. Morsi’s attempts to appeal to his critics have failed and only won him more condemnation, especially regarding his position on Syria and his contribution to the polarisation of Egypt. Economically and socially, Egypt has suffered under Morsi and the Egyptian people want the change they were promised.
30 June 2013
Increasing frustration over the worsening daily reality of the average Egyptian under Morsi triggers mass protests on the 30th of June as millions of Egyptians stream into the streets and demand the resignation of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood. Protesters set fire to the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo and clashes lead to the death of at least seven people across the country. The number of protesters appears to exceed the massive street protests during the final days of Mubarak’s rule.
01 July 2013
The Egyptian army issues a 48-hour ultimatum to Morsi. If he doesn’t abide, the military will move to impose a roadmap for the future of Egypt.
The military’s intervention is already branded a ‘soft coup’ by some. At the same time, the Egyptian military has not yet revealed what the road map it proposes will look like. While it took the military more time to intervene in the overthrow of Mubarak, analysts predict the intervention will come much sooner this time around.
Despite the significant increase in the occurrence and visibility of sexual violence on the streets of Egypt, women attend the mass protests and demand Morsi’s resignation.
03 July 2013
The Egyptian army takes president Morsi into military custody, suspends the constitution and installs an interim government after the president fails to meet the military’s ultimatum.
Egypt faces a difficult transition as the military faces the procedural issues that formed the Achilles heel of the 2011 transition.
04 July 2013
Adli Mansour, Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court, is sworn in as Interim President until new elections are held. Morsi is still held in an undisclosed location.
The term ‘military coup’ is used by some but not all actors. Egyptians supporting the military’s move insist that it was merely assisting the people of Egypt in overthrowing the President who no longer enjoyed democratic legitimacy. The United States is weary to use the term mainly due to the implications this would have for their ongoing financial assistance to the Egyptian military.
06 July 2013
Islamists in Egypt have proved that they are more dangerous and prone to violence when they are in a position of opposition or suppression. Egypt must find a way to avoid further polarisation and exclusion. There are also worries about the effects this will have on other democratically elected Islamists parties in other parts of the Arab world as they strive to hold onto the power they gained after the Arab Spring. They may well learn the lesson that to hold onto power – once voted in – they will have to be much more ruthless than the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood were.
08 July 2013
The army ends up killing 51 supporters of Morsi at the Cairo-based headquarters of the Republican Guard, where the former President is thought to be held.
09 Jul 2013
Egypt faces further polarisation as the different forces within the country struggle to have an input in the country’s political discourse. Adli Mansour’s interim rule plans to form a panel within 15 days to review the National Constitution, after which it will be put to referendum in approximately 4 months. Presidential elections are to be held in the beginning of 2014 and will be called once the new parliament convenes.
