Mohanad AboArafe
Seven years ago, following the success of its people’s revolution on 30 June 2013, Egypt was a quasi-state, suffering from internal security turmoil, sectarian and political strife; on the brink of, or perhaps at the heart of economic collapse; isolated from its Arab surroundings and besieged in its African continent and its relations with the world countries are severed.
The enemies of the great revolution of the Egyptian people on 30 June 2013, from inside and outside Egypt, were actively seeking to instill despair and frustration in this people, who were ravaged by the wounds of a long inherited era followed by 3 years of turmoil and security, economic and political instability, which ended with the seizure of power by a terrorist group, which spared no effort after its overthrow in attempts to shake the people’s confidence in their civilizational self, their historically deeply-rooted state, and their inherited ability to deliver and achieve the impossible.
Propaganda, rumors and campaigns by the terrorist group overthrown by the people and its external allies have continued throughout these seven years, attempting to paint and promote a false picture of Egypt, which is at variance with reality, adding to it all the evils it wishes for Egypt and its people. However, the real Egypt remains the one that it looks like today after 7 years, in all areas and axes. Where has Egypt now reached and how has it changed in all areas?
From a year of solitude to the heart of global politics
(Egypt is an isolated country, abandoned the option of a “democratic state” and chose the path of the “undemocratic state.” Its membership in the African Union has been suspended. Its new system strives for the recognition of the nations of the world. It lost its allies, who believed the lies and stopped the supply of arms, equipment and aid.)
This is the image that the terrorist group and its external allies spent money, effort, weapons and human lives to promote Egypt in a world that many of its countries did not realize that in 2013, Egypt was faced with an existential choice: “to be or not to be”, a choice between ” a state”, or “no state”
It wasn’t long before this image changed because reality has changed. The truth was gradually emerging. The global resonance of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s historic speech at the UN General Assembly in 2014 revealed Egypt’s restoration of its international and regional status, its natural respect among nations, and its role at the heart of regional and international interactions.
After a few months, Egypt has become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Egypt’s President was then elected President of the African Union. Months and years passed and Egypt has become the most important figure in international and regional politics. Recent events confirm what Egypt has achieved in this area. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the only president in the world to have been invited and participated in 28 regional and global summits in one year (June 2019-June 2020) on four continents, including 6 virtual summits due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Egypt has built deep and comprehensive strategic relations with the four world power centers: the United States, Russia, China, and Europe. It has regained its place in its nation, continent and region. The President of Egypt became a guest at all the world’s major summits. G-7, G-20 and others.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has made 115 foreign visits over six years, including Saudi Arabia (12 visits), Ethiopia (7), Sudan (6), China (6), Russia (5) and The United States of America (8) including 6 UN visits, and Germany (5).
Geographically, the President visited Arab countries (38), Africa (29), Europe (29) and Asia (18).
The President also held (911) meeting on the land of Egypt with leaders and officials from around the world who visited Egypt.
A planned activity, and a comprehensive vision of a balanced foreign policy that put Egypt in its position and restored its leverage was witnessed a week ago, when statements by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, reinforced by segments of a modern, sophisticated, armed and trained Egyptian army, resulted in changing all regional and international equations towards many issues. The world moved on the impact of the Egyptian dynamics.
Economy.. from collapsing to dazzling
The most difficult seven-year challenge was the economic file. And it’s the most dangerous file in light of its direct impact on the lives of citizens. There are no jobs, no social services, no facilities, no strong army without a strong and successful economy.
At home and abroad, terrorist group and its external allies the tried to spread suspicions about Egypt’s ability to rise again, and they called on countries, governments and economic organizations to refrain from helping Egypt’s “hopeless” economy.
The “resurrection” of that reality needed a miracle after all aspects of economic life had receded. But the will of the people had another opinion, and the return of self-confidence and the ability of the people and the State to accomplish began with the New Suez Canal, which was a symbol of the ability to overcome difficulties, and to find solutions and achieve accomplishments.
A few years later, the picture changed. After low growth rates that were in fact negative (deflationary), Egypt achieved increasing growth rates of nearly 6% prior to the repercussions of the current Coronavirus pandemic, the cash reserves were reinstated and unemployment fell from 13.4% to 7.5% in 2019. Egypt has provided the world with an impressive model of economic reform and the ability to achieve it.
In the field of urban development, the basic infrastructure has been rebuilt in the domains of roads, drinking water, sanitation, etc. The country was transformed into a major construction workshop from Al-Alamein in the west to Aswan in the south; and Sinai and Al-Galala in the east, in a series of fourth-generation cities, atop of which comes the new administrative capital, along with the continuous development of infrastructure in all cities and villages of Egypt. Probably the most significant to the world is the provision of sanitation to 40% of Egypt’s villages, compared to just 11% in 2014.
In the field of housing, the National Housing Project has been able to provide hundreds of thousands of housing units for all social strata of the people, and the State has seriously tackled the problem of slums and changed the lives of millions of people in a few years.
In the field of electricity, the State has allocated LE614 billion over six years, transforming Egypt from a country plagued with electricity problems to a country that exports electricity and energy after doubling its capacity in this field by adding 28,000 megawatts of electricity.
In the field of roads, the development arteries, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi launched in June 2014 the National Road Project by implementing 39 roads with a total of 4,400 km, the different stages of which were carried out at completion rates that have elevated Egypt’s ranking in road quality globally (90) places in 6 years from 113rd to 28th place in the world. Modern roads have saved thousands of Lives, with the number of deaths in road accidents falling by 50%.
In the field of productive development, the most prominent domain of sustainable employment opportunities, agriculture comes at the forefront with the reclamation and cultivation of 1.5 million acres project, followed by protected agriculture projects for optimal water usage, as well as aquaculture projects that contributed to closing the food gap in this area. In addition, hundreds of projects are underway to reuse agricultural wastewater and desalination of seawater.
In the field of industry, the Rubiki Leather City, the Furniture City of Damietta have been established and textile, automotive and other projects have been developed.
In the field of oil and gas, Egypt bid farewell to years of stagnation and debt for global energy companies, and achieved a major breakthrough in exploration and industries resulting in historic discoveries that have transformed Egypt from an importer of natural gas into a gas exporter and a global gas trading hub.
At the same time, the Economic Zone of the Suez Canal began to attract investments and fulfill promises to provide employment opportunities for the people and add more strength to the Egyptian economy.
Social development is the most humane issue in Egypt’s successful economic development, with the aim of improving the lives of citizens and developing the basic services provided to them. It also helps low-income groups to bear the consequences of economic reform.
Projects and initiatives in this context include the cost-effective social housing projects, the development of slums, the development of the subsidized bread system, raising the minimum wage, the creation of a new system of monetary support, including projects of “Solidarity & Dignity”, “Decent Life”, etc.
The two most important areas of social development are: the health file, where the “100 million Health” initiative was launched and is currently underway. Under this initiative, the world’s largest comprehensive medical survey of people was carried out. Other initiatives include the surgical waiting time initiative and the comprehensive health insurance project, which has already begun its first stages.
The second area is the education file, which is witnessing the boldest and most profound development and change in its systems, curricula and tools, the rehabilitation of buildings and teachers. In a real revolution, Egypt will be transformed into the heart of the modern age of science and technology.
From terrorism to being an oasis of security and peace
Terrorism was the tool and weapon of the terrorist group which tried, after being overthrown peacefully by the will of the people, to take over Egypt, as it is the closest weapon to the thinking of such groups that employ the distortion of thought and religion to recruit terrorist elements. It is a despicable weapon. They used it and bet on it. They and their collaborators at home and abroad tried to stigmatize Egypt by terror and turning it into a quagmire of terrorism and instability in the eyes of the world. For this purpose, they used all means to spread horror and terrorism in cities and deserts throughout Egypt, against the army, the police, churches, mosques, museums, innocent citizen, and public utilities alike.
They spent billions and recruited thousands. According to studies of independent research centers, they carried out 232 terrorist attacks in Egypt during the last six months of 2013, killing 195 army and police personnel and 802 civilians. In 2014, they carried out 182 terrorist attacks that left 157 army and police martyrs and 41 civilians dead.
In 2015, they carried out 310 terrorist operations that killed 178 army and police personnel, 318 civilians; 243 terrorist operations in 2016, leaving 273 army and police martyrs, 79 civilians; 169 terrorist operations in 2017, leaving 185 army and police martyrs and 144 civilians. In 2018, the number of terrorist operations fell to 45 and that of victims fell by 90%.
In 2019, terrorism was confined to a limited remote geographical area in northern Sinai and some infiltrators from the western border were soon being eliminated.
Thus, thanks to the will and unity of the Egyptian people and their repudiation of the ideology, groups, organizations and crimes terrorism, the army and police have been able to provide “full security” throughout Egypt to its people, guests, tourists and everyone on its soil. In 2019, Egypt ranked eighth in the world in security and safety, compared to 16th in 2018, out of 192 countries in the world.
Political Stability
In parallel with countering terrorism and security stabilization, after the 30 June Revolution, Egypt began to build institutions that reflected the will of the masses of the people, an Egyptian constitution was drafted by an elite that truly represented the components of the people, the newly-drafted constitution enjoyed broad popular support and free presidential elections were held twice in the presence of the international media. A new parliament has been elected, which will complete its parliamentary session and prepare for new elections, and the Senate has been introduced and a minimum limit for women’s representation in parliament has been established by 25% in constitutional amendments. A state of institutions was entrenched in Egypt, which they wanted to be subject to the office of guidance and shura councils of takfiri gangs, organizations and groups that do not believe in the idea of the homeland, let alone modern institutions.
The unity of Egypt… The Holy of Holies
The unity of the people of Egypt, with its Muslims and Copts is one of the holiest things her people cherish over the ages. In all these times, enemies and villains have always believed that undermining Egypt begins with an injury in the heart, i.e. the unity of its people.
This is what the terrorist Brotherhood group did, spreading sectarian strife, burning along with its allies within days dozens of churches and carrying out violence and terrorism against Christians and Muslims as well as those who disagree with their opinions or ideology or adhere to national affiliation. At the end of 2013, Egypt was riddled with wounds that hurt its unity, or heart in other words. Such wounds are the most difficult to heal. However, the terrorist group and its allies, still, have been targeting churches and pursuing desperate attempts to target the minds.
And despite the difficult task, however, the State and leadership presented a model to the people. All the churches that were demolished were then restored and rebuilt.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened the door to the joy of millions. The largest church in the Middle East and the largest mosque were built in the new administrative capital. Peace-loving returned among all and terrorism was defeated and Egyptians became safe in their mosques, churches, and homes, and felt more satisfied and secure in this regard than ever before in Egypt for nearly half a century. The rational treatment of all matters relating to this file continued through the reconciliation of the situation of thousands of church headquarters and the issuance of the unified law on the construction of places of worship to establish equality in its overall sense. Egypt’s pages in all international reports are a tribute to what Egypt has achieved in the field of citizenship and equality.
