Down with Sisi, Long Live the People

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

No matter the outcome of the protests currently happening in Egypt, and regardless of who may be behind them, one thing is specific: the era of fear that gripped the hearts of Egyptians is over. It’s now clear to everyone that the wall of fear built by the regime over the past six years is starting to crack and is on the verge of collapse. The departure of Sisi is no longer a distant dream but is closer than ever before.

Despite any consequences arising from the decision to protest and whatever risks this decision might bring to those involved, the bravery of these men and women, who have reignited hope in millions who fell into despair after the defeat of the January Revolution, deserves our most profound respect and contemplation. No one knows for sure where this unorganized, leaderless courage will lead us, but we do know that the people are much stronger than they appeared just a few hours ago.

The Revolutionary Socialists Movement salutes all those who initiated the protests without knowing their fate or the outcome of their actions. We honor those who faced repression and arrest by Sisi’s security forces to pave the way for the masses to express their hopes, ambitions, and anger.

Since Sisi came to power following his coup against the late President Mohamed Morsi, he has committed numerous crimes of murder, torture, and enforced disappearance. Initially, he gained fabricated popularity by instilling fear of the “Muslim Brotherhood threat” and foreign conspiracies. But gradually, under the pressure of violent impoverishment measures unprecedented in the country for at least half a century, his popularity waned. At the same time, the grip of repression tightened on any attempt to express dissent against austerity and impoverishment. It became evident that Sisi ruled the country as a criminal with a gun controlling a group of unarmed hostages.

In the past few days, an unbearable provocation has emerged, triggered by leaked information about his and his family’s systematic corruption, diverting public resources to build presidential palaces while still demanding the people endure more hardship, inflation, and impoverishment. This is particularly scandalous following the official announcement nearly two months ago that the poverty rate had increased from 27.8% in 2015 to 32.5% in 2017/2018, according to the income, expenditure, and consumption survey by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

What has happened so far is only the beginning of the collapse of the wall of fear and despair. This beginning will only deepen and be protected by a vigilant public, ready to fight to the end against dictatorship. The public has learned not to revolt so that others may reap the fruits of their revolution and sacrifices. Any change that does not remove the military from power and achieve freedom and justice for the people is merely another theft of the sacrifices of the masses, which can no longer be allowed to happen.

Down with military rule.