One year after coming to power – he had been elected in 2012 – the president Mohammed Morsi was increasingly questioned by the opposition, made up of various factions, including secular leftists, former supporters of the Hosni Mubarak and revolutionary groups, in particular the group Tamarod (“rebellion”, in Arabic), formed in the spring of 2013, which launched a petition demanding the departure of President Morsi and obtained more than 22 million signatures.
An important sector of the population reproached the President of the Republic for his dictatorial drift and a general policy aimed at pleasing the Muslim Brotherhoodrepressed since the times of the overthrown Monarchy, and within which he had been a militant for decades.
After massive rallies throughout the country, the army, led by el general Abdel Fattah al-Sissiissued an ultimatum on July 1, 2013, rejected the following day by Morsi, who defended his legitimacy by stressing that he had been democratically elected with 52% of the votes. However, according to several observers, the ultimatum had already been launched in April 2013 by the opposition coalition, when the economic situation was at its worst.
A discontent that Morsi not only failed to capture, but also fueled in mid-June by implying that Egypt should intervene in the civil war that was ravaging Syria. His Armed Forces, led by el general Abdel Fatah Al Sissithey refuse: they consider that their duty is limited to protecting the borders of Egypt.
General al-Sissi announced during a televised address on July 3, 2013, the removal of President Morsi
The Suez Crisis
The countdown of the short Islamist experience, led by Morsi, began to come to an end. Although the Egyptian Constitution enshrines the president as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, these, as could be seen, escape the control of civil power. Morsi believed the opposite when, as soon as he assumed the head of state, he dismissed the marshal Tantawi, who had six decades at the service of the Nasserist regime. Suffice it to say that he fought in the Suez Crisis in 1956. He was replaced by Al Sissi, whom Morsi trusted to embody the Egyptian Army of the 21st century. Big mistake.
The events precipitated from June 28, the day on which the demonstrations against Morsi spread through several Egyptian cities.
Events precipitated from June 28, the day on which the demonstrations against Morsi spread through several Egyptian cities, such as CairoAlexandria, DaqahliyahGharbeya y Aswan. General rehearsal before the big protest scheduled for the 30th. Morsi’s supporters also demonstrate, although with much less force. The Armed Forces issue an ultimatum, which expires on July 3.
the hour of betrayal
Said and done: at 9:00 p.m. on the appointed day, General Al Sissi, surrounded by officers and all the opponents of Mohamed Morsiincluding Salafists, the very pro-Western Mohamed ElBaradei, and Coptic religious dignitaries (Pope Tawadros II) and Sunnis, spoke on television to announce the dismissal of Mohamed Morsi and his replacement by the president of the High Constitutional Court, Ali Mansurthe suspension of the Constitution and the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections.
On July 7, Tony Blair asked for support for the process initiated by Al Sissi
Former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair
The next day, it emerged that Morsi had been arrested and that arrest warrants had been issued against the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. On July 7, Tony Blair, at the time coordinator of the Middle East of the Quarter, and unofficially on behalf of the West, asked for support for the process initiated by Al Sissi.
