BY ADEYEMI OSHUNRINADE
July 3, 2013
In a show of its ability to maintain order in Egypt, the nation’s military took action on Wednesday, when it ousted the first democratically elected President of the country. In what pro Morsi groups and the Muslim Brotherhood are calling a military coup, Mohamed Morsi the nation’s president elected a year ago, found himself relieved of his duties as the nation’s president. Before the decision to remove Morsi, the military gave the deposed leader 48 hours to restore order, amid mass protests that has devastated Egypt’s economy, since Egyptians took over Tahrir Square over a month ago.
With Morsi out of the picture, the military announced Adly Mansour, head of the country’s Constitutional Court as the interim president. Months after taking over as the nation’s elected president, Egyptians doubted Morsi’s sincerity as a leader determined to right the wrongs that led to demise of the Mubarak regime. The new Constitution became a matter of debate as many criticize its contents as pro-Islamists targeted to favor a particular sector of the nation, causing a power struggle between Morsi’s supporters in parliament and the opposition.
The President got criticized for using his office to consolidate the Muslim Brotherhood and the military, to keep his hold on power. Before Morsi came to power a year ago, results of the election got delayed for several days due to irregularities and uncertainty about the Military influence on the outcome, when it announced a power move about a week earlier, giving rise to allegation of back-room deals and presumed interference by the Supreme Military Council. Many questioned the military for trying to decide the election results in favor of Ahmed Shafiq, a supporter of the ousted Egyptian former President Hosni Mubarak.
With the choice of Morsi, Egyptians saw the beginning of a new era in Egypt. Though, skeptics questioned whether the choice of Morsi a Muslim Brotherhood member, meant the beginning of a social conservative government and a rule based on Islāmic ideologies, that some believe could end the secular nature of the state and a return to one governed by Islāmic law and principles. Skeptics, think such a move, would damage the purpose of the 18-months struggle at Tahrir Square.
Born August 20, 1951, Mohamed Morsi is the first Salafi elected President of Egypt. He became chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) a brainwork of the Muslim Brotherhood, created as a political party after the Egyptian revolution of 2011, that saw an end to the reign of Mubarak. He later became the Presidential candidate for the May-June 2012 Presidential election after receiving enormous support from his party members and followers.
Morsi obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Engineering from Cairo University. He moved to the United States, where he received his PhD in Engineering from the University of California in 1982, after which he returned to Egypt in 1985. Morsi was a member of the Egyptian Parliament from 2000-2005. He got chosen for the position as an independent candidate because the Mubarak government barred the Muslim Brotherhood from running candidates for office at the time.
With the ouster of Morsi, Egyptians have once again taken the nation in a new direction, different from what the world expected when Morsi came to power as the first democratically elected president. By forcing Morsi out of power, the people of Egypt have demonstrated the wish to find a leader that would be able to unite Egypt. With a possible outcome unknown, perhaps, it is time to move the country forward and find a solution to the power struggle, between the Muslim Brotherhood, the Supreme Military Council and supporters of a democratic Egypt.
Office of the President is now open, stripped of its powers by the Military. With the freely elected parliament dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood now dissolved, there could be a return to Tahrir Square if there is no resolution to the power struggle, which remains a major obstacle to a stable political atmosphere in Egypt.
To maintain peace the military must work towards a new election without delay and avoid staying in power. Egypt’s constitution needs annulment for a new one that would be fair to all Egyptians irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation. The new constitution must protect human rights and freedom. Dissolution of Egypt’s parliament is necessary for a new one that includes all interested parties in equal shares or else, there would be another Tahrir Square.
Dr. Adeyemi Oshunrinade [E. JD] is the author of ‘Wills Law and Contests,’ ‘Constitutional Law-First Amendment’ and ‘SAVING LOVE’ available at http://www.amazon.com/author/adeyemioshunrinade. Follow on Twitter @san0670.
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Categories: Foreign Affairs, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Peaceful demonstration, Politics
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