Protests in Tunisia and Egypt continue

Over the last month protesters across northern Africa have been taking to the streets, calling for democracy and clashing with authorities amidst escalating violence.

The uprising in Tunisia that led to the toppling of president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's government sparked protests in Egypt calling for an end to president Hosni Mubarak’s long running regime, and experts are talking of a domino effect.

Despite demands for a change in the autocratic ruling of Tunisia and Egypt, the powerful countries of the West that have long supported democracy in the region have played a subdued role.

Khaled Elmahdi, founder of the Egyptian Community in Scotland, spoke to The Journal about his views on the West’s lack of moral support.

“[The] US, UK and the EU in general don’t wish to show their support to the people and show resistance in changing the regime. I believe this is due to their fear that Egypt would be controlled by the Islamists and thus get into conflict with Israel”, he said.

There was much speculation on this point after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu suggested to the press that Egypt could end up with an Islamic regime as radical as that of Iran.

However, Dr Ewan Stein from the Department of Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh told The Journal he believes peace will remain a priority for Egypt.

“What the Israeli Prime Minister may be worried about ... is that a democratic Egypt will be less indulgent of Israeli interests than authoritarian Egypt has been. Even here though, I would predict that unless something really dramatic occurs, peace with Israel will remain an Egyptian strategic priority.”

Mr Elmahdi continued by expressing his hope for the future of Egypt when Mubarak is gone: “As per post Mubarak, the opposition already listened to the voice of the public and have managed to put aside their differences for the common goal. Today they've created a collation representing all the parties and the youth ready to take over whenever Mubarak steps down.”

However, an eyewitness in Cairo, Kristian Johansson, told The Journal that he believes Egypt faces many short-term problems before it can move into a more stable future.

He said: “I have spoken to locals at the hotel, airport, and elsewhere, and they told me that they have a lot of hope but to a certain degree fear of what might happen if things continue like this – food shortages, further loss of tourism income and so on.”

With reports of protests coming from Yemen and a reshuffling of government in Jordan, the events in Tunisia and Egypt could spark a chain reaction across autocratic states in the Middle East.

As The Journal went to print the sitting regime held talks with representatives from the opposition and the so called 25 January movement, trying to agree on concessions to end the protests.

However, people on the streets felt that was not enough and declared "as long as Mubarak stays, we stay".