Latest in Opinion Highlight
Latest in Opinion
Controversial football club chief declares candidacy in Egypt’s presidential election
By James M. Dorsey Egyptian football is adding salt to the run-up to presidential elections that are certain to be won by the country’s strongman, newly retired general Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, with the announcement of the controversial chairman of one of Egypt’s foremost clubs that he too was a presidential candidate. An outspoken lawyer known …
Running for sexism
Running has long been used to promote causes; fighting cancer, eradicating poverty, promoting literacy among other worthy endeavours. It has been used by men to spread awareness, including women’s rights. In Europe, the well-known “walk a mile in her shoes” displays men wearing high heels and walking a mile to draw attention to the different …
Whither Egypt’s miligarchy?
By Mohamed Selim On 3 July 2013, as then General, now Field Marshal, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi, millions of Egyptians cheered, while others jeered, as they received that expected ruse by Egypt’s most powerful establishment. Nine months after that annunciation, is Egypt better off? The answer is no. …
Without political support? (Part One)
There are many questions concerning running for presidency and whether it is possible to do such a thing without political backing or support. For instance, can a real campaign be created and run without political support? The same question applies concerning running the country. These questions stem from some statements made by supporters of Field …
A predictable summer
Last month we spoke about the challenges facing the new Egyptian government. At the time of his appointment, Mr Mehleb proclaimed that his two main objectives were to wipe out militant violence and improve the economy. In the weeks that have followed his appointment, the prime minster has been very active, clearly adopting a management …
Sisi’s covert clues
By Philip Whitfield Gettysburg 1863: Government of the people, by the people, for the people. Ashen, sick as a dog, Abraham Lincoln barely lasted another 15 months on earth. The wireman was away supping. Missed the iconic two minutes: 271 words of epigrammatically pithy eloquence: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth …
Diables Rouges
World football fans are familiar with the names of Eden Hazard, Jan Vertonghen, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany, Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet. Wwhat gathers this set of quality footballers are their Belgian passports. Belgium was never a football giant, as the national team appeared in 12 World Cups and their best result was …
What am I going to tell my reporters?
Nine months ago, last July, when the army backed the people who took to the streets on 30 June and Al Sisi came out in all his glory reading the armed forces statement which included almost everything protesting Egyptians demanded at the time. A specific roadmap was announced and a temporary civilian president was instated. …
Whose economic president?
The opportunity for presidential hopefuls to announce their intentions is now. So far, two have made themselves known, former Minister of Defence Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Nasserist politician Hamdeen Sabahy. Perhaps others will announce their candidacy, but it is unlikely that any will greatly change the contest. Most expectations are that Al-Sisi will be elected …
Why the AIDS cure matters
By Wael Eskandar The military has sent mixed messages about its miracle cure that allegedly cures both AIDS and hepatitis C. On the one hand, news published by Al-Watan highlights that former defence minister Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the validity of the cure, but in recent days despite …
Are there serious doubts regarding the integrity of presidential elections?
Some friends and relatives are surprised at those who question the integrity of the coming elections and wonder why they keep raising doubts concerning their democracy. And if so, what is the available evidence that the elections will be conducted in an undemocratic atmosphere? The truth is, there is serious doubt-raising evidence concerning the coming …
Egypt’s judges may be independent, but many are following the regime’s political agenda
By Nour Bakr The sentencing of 529 alleged Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters to death this week provoked almost universal outrage at the large-scale, and procedurally inept manner through which it was applied. Whilst many argue the sentence is likely to be overturned, and that consequently reactions are equally overblown, this misses the point. Since …
Then and Now
I am always intrigued by the dizzying changes that have enveloped Egypt in the past year. What I find to be most amusing is how certain positions have totally gone from one extreme to the other. When it comes to Egypt’s foreign policy, it is a seemingly endless seesaw where yesterday’s friend is today’s foe. …
Breaking the web: Data localisation vs. the open internet
Governments argue that by keeping data at home, they are improving the privacy and security of their citizens.
The death of duality
While the opinion of others used to be important these days nobody seems to care
Does Egypt need to use more muscles or more brain?
By Mohammed Nosseir Egypt is certainly facing a political crisis. Whether you perceive 30 June to be a revolution or a coup, its consequences have, undeniably, driven the country in an unpleasant direction. The nation is polarised, split into two main political groups, and numerous terrorist acts are being committed across the country, hindering political …
UN rapporteur accuses Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing‘
By Dr Cesar Chelala Richard Falk, United Nations rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories accused Israel last week of “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians. Speaking at a press conference, he said that Israeli policies bore “unacceptable characteristics of colonialism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing”. “Every increment of enlarging the settlements or every incident of house demolition is a …
Op-ed review: A citizen, a writer and a politician
Ezzedin Choukri Fishere Al Masry Al Youm Newspaper Writer Ezzedin Choukri Fishere begins his article by explaining what it means to be a free citizen. “A free citizen does what he likes. He can boycott elections if he feels that they are predetermined or unfair or that it will not make a difference in his …
From sexual harassment to sexual liberation
At the heart of Egypt’s sexual harassment epidemic lies an out-of-date and unrealistic ideal of the “real” man and the “honourable” woman
Sierra Leone: Nursing agriculture back to health
By Kingsley Ighobor and Ernest Harsch Sierra Leoneans love to eat rice. For them, rice is the food to live on. “It doesn’t matter what other food they eat, they must eat rice at least once a day before they can say they have eaten at all,” explains Umaru Fofana, editor of Politico, a Sierra …
What are the justifications for Al-Sisi’s nomination? Part 3: Possible reform movement
In the previous articles, we highlighted three groups that are supporting Al-Sisi’s nomination. The first one is the popular movement, which expresses the general mood in the Egyptian streets. The second one if the old state movement, which encompass several groups with different goals and directions that believe in the old regime’s way and completely …
Interior ministry between honesty and deception
“It is a scenario everybody has become bored with for its repetitiveness. Football in Egypt has returned as an empty theater show for the sake of the Egyptian police, as if the decisions of the Egyptian security [apparatus] are revelations from above, even if it does not mean a thing but their inability to perform …
Is politics about dirt or values?
By Mohammed Nosseir ‘Politics is a dirty game!’ is a phrase often used to justify the behavior of politicians. If you are a believer in this maxim, please vote for the most corrupt politicians you know and bring them into government or parliament. This will ensure that, ultimately, Egypt’s governing authority and legislative council will …
Shifting strategies
Obama’s upcoming visit to Riyadh will do little to ease Saudi concerns over the new course of American foreign policy
Al-Sisi’s austerity request
“Egypt’s youth is its hope; they need to give and not expect to take anything now.” “Egypt needs a lot from us. Egypt’s youth should not be thinking about when will they be able to get married or when will they ‘live’, they need to build the country first.” “Our economic situation is extremely difficult, …
Disappointment, in football and life
The 28 year-old star has been a professional footballer since he was 16, and has since made over 500 Premier League appearances.
Israeli youth’s courage to refuse
By Dr Cesar Chelala In a letter sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dozens of Israeli youth blasted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), accusing it of “penetration into civilian life, which deepens the country’s chauvinism, militarism, violence, inequality and racism”. Yesh Gvul, an organisation that defends conscientious objectors, stated in response to the letter’s publication …
On hype and hypocrisy
By Mohamed Selim The first step that any country on the verge of collapse should do, is to empower its institutions, including its fourth estate without which, all efforts to garner the public’s confidence would be an exercise in futility. A few weeks ago, Egypt’s newly appointed interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, maintained the mandate …
Africa’s economy grows, but many stomachs are empty
By Kingsley Ighobor Each year, governments, journalists, development experts and others look forward to the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report. The report includes a ranking of countries based on life expectancy, literacy, quality of life and so on. Once it is released, governments and citizens of countries with high rankings immediately trumpet their …
The real impact of Israel’s ‘Jewish state‘ demand
The main impact of Israel’s new “Jewish state” demand is to effectively negate the Palestinian recognition of Israel in 1993