Egyptian Military Chief Warns of “collapse of the state”

Via the BBC:  Egypt’s army chief warns of ‘state collapse’ amid crisis

"The continuing conflict between political forces and their differences concerning the management of the country could lead to a collapse of the state and threaten future generations," Gen Sisi, who is also Egypt’s defence minister, said.

He said the economic, political and social challenges facing Egypt represented "a real threat to the security of Egypt and the cohesiveness of the Egyptian state".

The military deployment along the Suez Canal was meant only to protect the key shipping route, one of Egypt’s main sources of foreign revenue, and described the army as "a pillar of the state’s foundations", he added.

His comments were made in an address to army cadets which were subsequently posted on the military’s official Facebook page.

Now, on the one hand one does not want to read too much into a given statement.  However, on the other, when the highest ranking military officer makes such statements, especially in a country with as political active a military as Egypt’s, one ought to pay attention.

After all:  the institution of the state fundamentally charged with stopping its collapse is the military.

Side note: is Facebook a pervasive medium or what?   Its global significance continues to fascinate.

FILED UNDER: Africa, World Politics, , ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. Bart Wallace says:

    This should continue to be an interesting situation. I will make a few predictions. There will be a low grade civil war within Egypt, it will be fomented and controlled by competing political interest, and the Copts will be a common scape goat for both sides and their numbers within Egypt will drastically fall.

  2. OzarkHillbilly says:

    Side note: is Facebook a pervasive medium or what? Its global significance continues to fascinate.

    Well, it doesn’t pervade to me.

  3. Rob in CT says:

    Here’s hoping for a minimum of bloodshed. I will make no predictions.

    On the Facebook front, I routinely get emails from friends or family that start with “well, since you’re not on Facebook, I thought I’d fill you in on…” [this is often delivered in person as a whine, because sending me an email is apparently so much effort] It is pretty amazing how in about 5 years, communication by email went from perfectly normal modern behavior to stone age stuff that only irritating people like me cling to. 🙂 I’ve become a luddite overnight, apparently. This amuses me.

    I will hold out for some time yet. My daughter is only 3. But at some point, I’ll have to cave. Whether it’s FB or the thing that eats FB, I’ll have to get on it. Joy.