Egypt Begins 2014 with Decisions, Deaths, and Divisions

Headlines in the West are not always a great way to understand what's happening around the world.  "If it bleeds, it leads," is great for attracting readers and viewers, but not necessarily for educating on the depth of what's happening around the world.  From Syria to Ukraine to Egypt, there's more than what you're seeing on the headlines.

Here are links to headlines closer to Egypt, providing maybe a different set of information from what you are seeing beyond this region.  These stories are not the full story, but only snapshots.  There is so much depth and nuance to everything that is happening here that it would be impossible to fully convey all the meanings and possibilities in any post.  We're not attempting to influence your opinion, nor to make you think we have it all figured out--we're passing along the setting to the services we're providing and we trust this will help you better #PrayForEgypt, and maybe a few prayers for us, too :)

Here in Egypt, the New Year began with the need to make a decision on a new draft constitution.  In a two day referendum, the overwhelming majority of 98% approved the draft.  While well more than 30% of eligible voters participated unlike the previous Constitution's referendum, there was a similar resignation to the fact that it would pass, so why even show up to vote to the contrary.  In fact, though there were a lot of banners throughout the city encouraging citizens to vote for the latest Constitution, there were a lot of stories of those who had an opposing view either being arrested or their materials confiscated.  The prevailing thought from those on Twitter was that if you opposed the Constitution, you had to keep it to yourself or you might end up in jail and labeled along with the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist.

from the Ahram Online photo gallery

Though the military has launched strategic efforts to clamp down on radical factions within Egypt, a

war on terror, the incidents of violence and terrorist like attacks have only seemed to increase:

• there were the four bomb blasts on January 24, the day before the third anniversary of the Revolution that ousted Mubarak

• but other bombs have been found, too - some disarmed, others are duds, but still others go off - they have been found near the often targeted police stations (prompting increased security zones), and along the Metro public transit lines.

• police have been targeted - one officer killed outside of a church recently

• and a high ranking official with the Ministry of Interior was gunned down outside his home - though the government is encouraging restraint from stating that he was an intentional target pending an investigation 

There have also been the continuing instances of clashes between demonstrators and police; around 50 died on the anniversary of January 25 throughout the country.

While former president Mohamed Morsi is in jail and faces various court cases for accused crimes including a jail break in 2011 prior to his rise to power, all Egyptian eyes are pointing forward to the next Presidential election that should take place between now and April as the date is still pending.

Also pending is whether or not Field Marshal (recently promoted from General) Abdel-Fattah El-

This cartoon, as shared on the blog
Egyptian Chronicles, is typical
of the "hero worship" seen of
El-Sisi in the past 6+ months.

Sisi will run for President.  For those of you who may not know El-Sisi, here's a quick and probably too general description of the events of last summer.  El-Sisi was the General who confronted former President Morsi prior to the June 30 demonstrations last summer, urging him to do something to appease what many thought could get out of hand; Morsi dismissed the possibility of a large demonstration, and later gave a nearly 3 hour long speech that only made everyone more polarized.  The resulting demonstration, estimated as the largest in the history of the world, and continued nightly.  The military made a statement through Sisi, urging Morsi to do something by a deadline, and when nothing was done, Sisi led the military to remove President Morsi, received a blessing on a transitional government "roadmap" by political and religious groups, and quickly became the face and "heart throb" of the last revolution.

Private citizens have been petitioning for Sisi to run for President for months.  This week, the SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) officially gave permission for Sisi to retire and run for the Presidency as a civilian--essentially endorsing his candidacy if he chooses to run and relinquish his role as Defense Minister.

This, as you would expect, has been met with mixed opinions as well.  The overwhelming mood is that if Sisi chooses to run, he is assured to be the next President of Egypt.  This popular opinion should not be equated with popular approval.  There are the Islamists who feel they did and won everything democratically only to have it all forcibly removed from them (Presidency, Parliament, and the previous Constitution).  Then there are the young revolutionaries who "fought" against the regime of a former military man, then against the SCAF led government, and now find themselves looking at the very real possibility of a SCAF approved, former military man running nearly unopposed to become the next President.   Throw in the increasing violent factions of each group, and you have a country with growing divisions at a time when there is so much in decline.

What is not in decline is hope.  I don't think that hope is increasing, but it's definitely holding steady, even if only on a razor's edge.  Egypt has so much promise, so much possibility, so much to continue to offer to the world; and yet, so much hangs in the balance while we cautiously wait and wonder what will happen next.

We ourselves remain safe, and though we have an even greater sense of vigilance these days, we are encouraged as ministry has not only continued but actually kept us all quite busy in the past month.  We pray for the peace and future of this our host country; we share the above reports and links not to alarm you nor to criticize anything or anyone here.  These reports are some of things we are watching and they form the backdrop to the interactions and the service we provide to believers in this region.

Thank you for your continuing interest, and we encourage you to continue to #PrayForEgypt.