November 20, 2019 | Written By - Ria Raj '21
The past few months have presented a massive surge in protests globally. The current president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, and his administration, has detained more than 4,300 people since last month in response to a wave of protests against his governance. If the protestors arrested back in September were referred to trial, it would be the largest protest-related criminal case in Egyptian history, which is monumental. Amnesty International has documented signs of abuse and violations at protests throughout the international community, principally within Egypt. It’s important to recognize that these protests are no anomaly in Egyptian history. Successfully toppling Egyptian government leader, Hosni Mubarak, was a product of the 2011 Tahrir Square civilian protests. Allegations of government corruption drive the protestors nationwide. Alongside the unrest is the concerning cost of living - these anxieties continue to heighten due to Al Sisi imposing harsh economic austerity measures. An end to these protests may only be in sight if Al Sisi considers leaving his seat in government, which at the present moment is highly unlikely. This makes for a pretty rocky future for the nation of Egypt.
Algeria’s voting population is in for quite a roller coaster ride. After eight months on the streets, Algerian protestors aren’t giving up. The group mobilized to demand an overhaul to their highly centralized government system. Angry at unemployment and political corruption, protestors took to the streets on February 22nd. Police are still struggling to contain thousands of Algerian demonstrators in Algiers, the nation’s capital. The protesters are focused on the upcoming December 12 presidential election to replace longtime leader, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Bouteflika was forced to step down in April after weeks of nationwide protests. Another factor which contributed to his stepping down was pressure from the country's powerful military over his bid for a fifth term in office. Protesters are demanding large scale reforms in the country before any voting takes place. Although many may not see Algeria popping up on their mainstream news feeds, the nation is a key player in the international community. The downfall of such an oil-rich nation presents a threat worldwide and protestors have this leverage on their side. The future of Bouteflika will most likely be determined in the upcoming months. Only time will tell.
While the media is largely focused on Turkey’s presence in Syria, the divisions which Turkey has been enacting in Cyprus for the past 45 years are going unnoticed. The conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots runs deep, as the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey. The two regions have separate governing systems and the issue of rebuilding the tainted relations between them has historically been quite a hot topic. The flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus can be seen from everywhere in Nicosia, the capital of the Republic of Cyprus. It stands as a blunt reminder of the Mediterranean island’s long lasting divisions. Unfortunately, due to the preoccupation of United Nations members with the current Turkey-Syria issue, optimism is fading fast. Many hoped that getting the conflict out of it’s stagnant state would find momentum after the United Nations General Assembly opened its annual session in September. No such progress has been made, and the window for resolution is closing fast.
The tale of minority governments attempting to get their executive ducks in line is not an uncommon one. This issue currently sits on the Israeli government’s agenda, as Prime Minister Netanyahu has failed to form a majority government coalition twice since national elections took place back in April. As a result, Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, officially gave Benny Gantz the mandate to form a new government on October 23rd. Gantz, Israel’s Blue and White party leader and former military chief, is the main political opposition to Netanyahu. According to Israeli law, Gantz will have 28 days to form a government with no time extensions allowed. Whether Gantz will be successful or not in forming this coalition on shaky Knesset grounds is debatable. Certain Arab Party Lawmakers have voiced support for Gantz, a backing which Netanyahu has never had. Gantz has also looked at the possibility of attempting to form a minority coalition that would include far right and orthodox Jewish associated parties. The international community eagerly waits to see which political party will ultimately take charge of the prominent Middle Eastern nation.
Lebanon, is currently in the midst of the largest anti government protests in the region in over a decade. Years of government corruption and financial mismanagement drive the protestors nationwide. These anti-government protests are in defiance of Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s perceived corruption and his failure to provide basic social and economic rights. Lebanese people flooded the streets on October 17 after the government proposed a series of new taxes. These included a fee on calls made via free messaging services, principally WhatsApp. While protestors are aiming for a “change of political establishment,” they stand leaderless and without a set list of demands, which actually may be their greatest strength. Now protest leaders say the country faces a “historic opportunity for change” but it’s also proving to be quite dangerous. Lebanese security forces used excessive force to disperse a peaceful protest in downtown Beirut, including tear gas as well as chasing protesters at gunpoint or beating them. These protests stand to be monumental, not simply because they are calling for change, but rather because they are doing so successfully. Within less than two weeks of protests, Saad Hariri has already agreed to step down from his position as Prime Minister. Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, has announced that he is ready to negotiate with representatives of the protesters. It’s clear that people worldwide are ready to express their right to organize and, in the case of Lebanon, the civilian population might ultimately be victorious.
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