The Egyptian revolution of 2011 did not just change a president. It changed the political discourse in the region and left a complex “legacy” that continues to be debated today, between the hope for change and the difficult reality of political transformation.
In February 2011, after 18 days of mass protests that shook the foundations of the Egyptian state, then-President Hosni Mubarak resigned, ending nearly three decades in power. The event marked a turning point not only for Egypt but for the entire Middle East region, at the height of the wave of uprisings known as the Arab Spring. The protests began on January 25, 2011, on what was called the “Day of Rage.” Inspired by the overthrow of the Tunisian president earlier that month, thousands of Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria, protesting poverty, unemployment, corruption, and police repression. Chants of “Mubarak, go!” and “The people want the fall of the regime” echoed in the country’s main squares.
The epicenter of the movement became Tahrir Square, where tens of thousands of protesters set up tents and stood day and night, defying a ban on gatherings and a curfew. Security forces tried to disperse the crowds with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. The clashes left several dead and hundreds injured.
On January 28, in what was dubbed the “Friday of Rage,” police were partially withdrawn from the streets, while the army was deployed in major cities. The sight of tanks near state institutions and citizens cheering for the army marked an unusual moment of both unity and uncertainty. In 2011, then-Vice President Omar Suleiman announced on state television that Mubarak had decided to step down and transfer power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Cairo’s squares erupted in celebration. People waved flags, hugged each other, and celebrated what seemed like the beginning of a new era. But the road after Mubarak’s ouster proved to be a complicated one.
In August 2011, the former president appeared in court in Cairo, accused of complicity in the killing of protesters. In June 2012, he was sentenced to life in prison. However, the trials dragged on for years. In 2014, an Egyptian court dismissed the main charges in the killing of protesters.
On March 2, 2017, the Egyptian Court finally declared him not guilty of charges related to the killings during the 2011 protests. The decision caused mixed reactions in public opinion: for some it was a restoration of justice, for others a bitter disappointment. Fifteen years after Mubarak’s resignation, the events of January-February 2011 remain a historical moment for Egypt. They demonstrated the power of civic mobilization and the influence of social networks in organizing mass protests. At the same time, they highlighted the challenges of political transition in a country with deep state and military structures. The Egyptian revolution of 2011 did not just change a president. It changed the political discourse in the region and left a complex “legacy”, which continues to be debated today, between the hope for change and the difficult reality of political transformation.