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Egypt faces uncertain future as factions still deeply divided
The future of Egypt remains full of uncertainties as supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi are still deeply divided.
The military gave a 48-hour ultimatum Thursday for Islamists to join the national reconciliation dialogue.
However, clashes between pro-Morsi and opposition factions erupted overnight Friday, which killed at least 29 people and injured another 649, the state-run MENA news agency reported.
Meanwhile, a top Egyptian court has ordered the detention of Morsi for 15 days for investigation over charges of spying and escape from jail.
According to MENA, Morsi is accused of spying for the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement; while official al-Ahram online said he is also facing charges of “escaping from Wadi El Natron prison and destroying the prison’s official records as well as the intentional killing of officers and some prisoners.”
In a statement dubbed “the last chance” Thursday, the army said it will adopt a new strategy to deal with “black terrorism” after the end of a pro-military protest.
“Those who failed to see the masses on June 30 and July 3 will see them on Friday,” said the statement, referring to the protest on June 30 that led to the ouster of Islamist president Morsi.
“What happened on June 30 was a popular uprising, not a military coup,” the military statement contended, adding that the army and the Interior Ministry will not allow anyone to disturb the country’s peace, security and stability.
The first 48-hour deadline was issued by the Armed Forces Chief and Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on July 1 to respond to the demands of the people. It was then seen by security and political experts as necessary to resolve the political crisis in the turmoil-stricken country.
However, Egyptians were not satisfied with the Muslim Brotherhood’s response after the previous ultimatum, which led to the ouster of Morsi.
On Wednesday, Sisi called on Egyptians to hold massive rallies in support of a security crackdown on potential violence and terrorism.
The call by Sisi, who also serves as the first deputy prime minister, was condemned by Islamists as an invitation for violence.
Two days later, Egyptian squares witnessed rival mass demonstrations, with some being held in support of the army’s “war against terrorism,” while others were staged by pro-Morsi Islamists.
In the clashes that erupted later, most of the pro-military protesters waved Egyptian flags, held large posters of Sisi, and shouted slogans in support of the army.
In contrast, throngs of loyalists of Morsi held various rallies and sit-ins at squares in Cairo and other governorates, demanding Morsi’s return as a legitimate president.
As the 48-hour ultimatum approaches, Egyptians are waiting for the military institution and the Muslim Brotherhood to decide the future of the troubled country.
“If the turmoil continues and the political field does not provide a qualified candidate to contain the situation, the military might nominate Sisi or support an affiliate to maintain security and stability,” Gamal Salama, head of the political science department at Suez University.
Some other voices criticized Sisi’s call for rallies under the current circumstances in Egypt.
Adel Sabri, managing editor of the Al-Wafd Newspaper, said Sisi attempted to invalidate the legitimacy of the ousted president and alienate millions of Morsi’s supporters representing Islamists.
He said that being against the policies of the Muslim Brotherhood does not justify the alienation of the Islamists.
“We were against Islamists’ attempts to monopolize power and now we are against their alienation when they are not in power,” he said.
Sabri said, “There must be consensus and reconciliation among all to rescue the country.”
