Cairo and Tunisia Protests : A Comprehensive Look at What's Cooking

By Lim Kok Tong

Egypt, one of the most powerful nations in Africa is now in turmoil after 30 years of dictatorship under Hosni
Mubarak. Reviewing Wikipedia content, it is hard to believe that his role is anything like that of a trusted leader, at
least to the current generation.

“While in office, political corruption in the Mubarak administration's Ministry of Interior has risen
dramatically, due to the increased power over the institutional system that is necessary to secure the
prolonged presidency. Such corruption has led to the imprisonment of political figures and young activists
without trials, illegal undocumented hidden detention facilities,and rejecting universities, mosques,
newspapers staff members based on political inclination.”

The strategic importance of this great nation cannot be ignored. Its position that straddles Africa and Europe is
one that has allowed for great diversity in its history. The Nile supports its agriculture and bolsters it economy.

Egypt controls arguably the most vital shipping gate in the world: The Suez Canal. During the height of the Cold
War, it was a critical outpost target for Soviet and US control and continues to hold international political
importance. With the current wind of democratic protests stemming from the Tunisia crisis, the region could be
on the brink of unrest.

Tunisia is typically a dictatorship, a form of government which reflects as a current norm in the Middle East.
Geographically, the nearest democratically elected civilian government is Turkey. It is worth noting that in Tunisia,
oil is not a looming issue as it is now mostly non-OPEC members (a global organization dedicated to stability and
shared control of the petroleum markets) that bear the brunt of current uncertainty.

The protests began as a response to uncertainty regarding the replacement of Tunisian former leader Ben Ali, a
premier dogged by accusations of nepotism and corruption who left the nation earlier this month. He left behind
a prime minister and the head of the constitutional court in a stalemate of constitutional interpretation. The rest
of the region had their eyes on Tunisia to see if the calls for change would produce any results and much to their
surprise, it did.

By setting an example of people's power that is almost reminiscent of the French Revolution in 18th century, it
suddenly seems more likely that change in the Middle East can be achieved using non-military means. This is
certainly attractive to the activists in respective nations.

It is difficult not to draw parallels between the civil instability in Tunisia and what is now occurring in Egypt. The
unrest in Tunisia is said to have spread into this stalwart nation, potentially threatening US strategic interests. The
current situation presents a dilemma to Washington since the protests themselves embody a proper democratic
movement, an ideal which US foreign policy has encouraged around the world.

It would appear now, that Cairo is in danger from precisely the kind of change that America been calling for. With
news reports of a similar nature breaking from Yemen, it is definitely arguable that there is a trend; a distinct and
significant movement in the region, with its people looking for a different reality.

28 January 2011

Editing: Ashvina Marie Naidu