President Hosni Mubarak has been forced to resign after much resistance from protesters in Egypt. The recently appointed Vice President, Omar Suleiman made a brief announcement on State television announcing the President’s resignation and transfer of authority to the Army Supreme Council.
Mubarak left the Presidential palace earlier on Friday and reportedly went to the sea side town of Sharm el Sheikh.
Mubarak stepped down after the Egyptian people remained unconvinced by a speech given by him the night before in which he transferred some executive powers to his Vice President Omar Suleiman.
The armed forces issued a second public announcement reassuring the Egyptian public they will look after the people at the same time promising free and fair democratic elections. Mubarak’s resignation is an action aimed by the Army at appeasing the Egyptian people.
Hundreds of thousands of people [millions in some estimates] celebrated their achievement over the 18 days of protest in which over 300 protesters were killed.
The year 2011 is being widely seen as the year of revolution against Arab rulers. Hosni Mubarak after 30 years in power, has become the second Arab President who has had to resign as a result of a protest led revolution. The Tunisian President Ben Ali, was the first president to go after his 23 years in power and fleeing to Saudi Arabia.
The two questions now arising from these recent events are will the sparks that started this revolutionary fire spread across the Arab world, and who is will be the third leader to go next?
Hodan Yusuf
Horseed Media
Egypt: Hosni Mubarak Resigns
Published: February 12, 2011
