The Egyptian revolution
Inspired by the uprising in Tunisia, hundreds of thousands of protesters occupied Tahrir Square in January 2011. After 18 days of demonstrations, President Hosni Mubarak resigned, ending nearly 30 years in power. The protests became a defining moment of the Arab Spring.
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What happened
Hosni Mubarak had ruled Egypt since 1981 under emergency law, with widespread police abuse, corruption and high youth unemployment. In December 2010 the self-immolation of a Tunisian street vendor sparked protests that toppled Tunisia's president within weeks, and Egyptian activists called for a 'day of rage' on 25 January 2011, National Police Day.
Organised largely through Facebook and Twitter, the protests drew far larger crowds than expected. Hundreds of thousands occupied Tahrir Square in central Cairo, setting up tents, clinics and stages. The government shut down the internet, and police and pro-regime thugs attacked protesters, including in the notorious 'Battle of the Camel'. Around 850 people were killed during the 18 days.
On 11 February 2011, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had resigned and handed power to the army. Tahrir Square erupted in celebration, and the uprising became the emblem of the Arab Spring. The hope proved short-lived: an elected Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed Morsi, was overthrown by the military in 2013, and Egypt returned to authoritarian rule.
Around the same time
- The Hong Kong handover, Hong Kong, 1997
- South Africa's first free election, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1994
- The fall of the Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany, 1989 to 1990
- Apollo 11 launches to the Moon, Cape Canaveral, USA, 1969
Earlier: The Hong Kong handover, 1997
Further reading
Encyclopedia article: Egyptian revolution of 2011 (en.wikipedia.org)