Mapping the Battle Lines in Tahrir Square: The Role of Government Players, Opposition Forces, and Neo-Liberal Economic Policies in Egypt’s Future
The Egyptian State has begun to intentionally present a blurry and confusing picture of the opposition movement in hopes of appointing its preferred group as the leader of these protests.
by Yousef K. Baker
In a statement made on February 6th, 2011, Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman announced the formation of a “consensus” agreement, purportedly reached between the government and several opposition groups, to bring an end to the protests raging across Egypt. Though it was not immediately clear which groups had been present at the negotiating table, reports suggested that Suleiman had separately met with a number of political parties. However, hours after Suleiman’s statement, it became apparent that no such “consensus” had been reached. In particular, the Muslim Brotherhood denied any such agreement had been obtained, since the opposition’s key demand, namely the removal of Hosni Mubarak, had not been met.
As Suleiman’s announcement demonstrates, the Egyptian State has begun to intentionally present a blurry and confusing picture of the opposition movement. In doing so, the government appears to be cherry picking between opposition factions, in the hopes of appointing its preferred group as the leader of these protests. Though the strength of these protests lies in part in the absence of a single leading party or central figure, these circumstances allow for those in power and members of the media to speak on behalf of the demonstrators and, more troubling, to manipulate the movement’s message and goals.
