After hundreds of thousands of Egyptians rallied against corruption, “pro-government” Egyptians attacked protestors Wednesday.As unrest continues in Egypt, the international question remains: What is next for Egypt, neighboring countries and the Arab world?
The uprising was a response to an unsatisfactory regime and an opportunity for citizens to follow Tunisian rioters’ lead.
The Egyptian “Day of Rage” was January 25 and began with nonviolence, but ended with police using tear gas and water hoses on crowds.
As Egyptians rallied against president Hosni Mubarak, their connections to the outside world were stifled.
Social media was suspended. Curfews were given.
Persistence prevailed Tuesday when 82-year-old Mubarak agreed to step down (in September). He also issued an address.
“The Hosni Mubarak who speaks to you today is proud of his achievements over the years in serving Egypt and its people,” he said during a televised broadcast.
Mubarak held the position for 30 years.
A constant flow of Egyptian news left many wondering about the welfare of one of the world’s most notable countries.
An Egyptian Gramblinite granted The Gramblinite inside details about tumultuous Egypt.
Samar Negida came from the American University in Cairo and studied abroad in GSU’s mass communication program in fall 2009.
She is currently in Egypt and working as a reporter for German TV.
Negida’s presence was a reciprocated learning experience. Negida was the first Egyptian numerous students had met.
While at GSU, she participated in campus life, attended athletic events and got the opportunity to explain the significance of Ramadan to students in a Bible-belt HBCU.
Negida recently assured Facebookers that she is fine and asked that people not worry.
“We are trying so hard to get our rights,” she said. “I hope we can keep it (as) safe as possible .But, it’s crazy still.”
On a scale of one to 10, with one being completely unsafe and 10 being completely safe, Negida gave Egypt a three Wednesday.
While western media outlets reported that Mubarak supporters attacked the masses, Negida said that his supporters were “paid, gangster people working in factories belonging to businessmen.”
“They got prisoners out all over Egypt,” she said. Another concern is the treatment and placement of prisoners and refugees.
Nearby Northern and Eastern African nations can be affected by the chaos.
One such nation is Eritrea, which is only one country, Sudan, south of Egypt.
“Due to the Eritrean government’s strong regulation of the press and the tough consequences that citizens face by trying to voice opinions . , the people are very quiet,” said Louisiana Tech MBA student Yonas Haile.
Haile’s parents are natives of Eritrea. (His father, Dr. Semere Haile is a GSU business professor.)
Haile said that Eritreans can be expected not to intervene with regard to Egypt.
Egypt’s current troubles include more than an anti-establishment culture, senseless police officers and rioting citizens.
Hundreds of Eritreans and other Africans were kidnapped by human traffickers and are being held along the Egypt-Israel border for ransom.
Egypt is something of a hotspot for refugees, and houses nearly 40 nationalities of refugees, according to the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights web site.
The site also reported that the country does not have a domestic law to regulate refugee issues.
Hundreds of uprising casualties later change is underway.
“Although devastating for the loss of lives, this outcry for an Egyptian revolution has been heard throughout the world,” Savannah Dwairi, a mass communication graduate student and native of Arab nation, Jordan.
“Pray for us. I think it is getting more critical,” Negida said.