2013 Egyptian coup d'état

2013 Egyptian coup d'état
H. Elrasam for VOA · Public domain · source
Conflict	2013 Egyptian coup d'état
Partof	the Arab Spring and the Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014)
Date	3 July 2013
Place	Cairo, Egypt
Result	Overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi; suspension of the 2012 constitution; installation of an interim government led by Adly Mansour
Combatant1	Government of Egypt, Freedom and Justice Party, Muslim Brotherhood
Combatant2	Egyptian Armed Forces, Opposition to the rule of Mohamed Morsi
Commander1	Mohamed Morsi, Mohamed Badie
Commander2	Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Hamdeen Sabahi, Mohamed ElBaradei

2013 Egyptian coup d'état. The 2013 Egyptian coup d'état was a pivotal event in modern Egypt that resulted in the removal of the country's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi. Orchestrated by the Egyptian Armed Forces under the leadership of Minister of Defense Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on 3 July 2013, it followed massive public protests against Morsi's rule. The coup initiated a prolonged period of political turmoil, severe crackdowns on dissent, and a significant restructuring of the Egyptian state.

Background and causes

The coup was preceded by the Egyptian revolution of 2011 which toppled longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak and led to elections won by Morsi and the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi's year in office was marked by deepening political polarization, economic stagnation, and accusations of authoritarian overreach, including a controversial constitutional declaration that expanded his powers. Opposition coalesced into the Tamarod movement, which organized nationwide protests on the anniversary of Morsi's inauguration, culminating in the June 2013 Egyptian protests that drew millions. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which had governed during the transitional period, issued a 48-hour ultimatum for political resolution, setting the stage for military intervention.

Events of the coup

On the evening of 3 July 2013, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi appeared on national television to announce the suspension of the 2012 constitution and the removal of President Mohamed Morsi, who was subsequently detained by the Republican Guard. The announcement was flanked by political and religious leaders, including Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb, Coptic Pope Tawadros II, and opposition figures Mohamed ElBaradei and Hamdeen Sabahi. The Supreme Constitutional Court chief justice, Adly Mansour, was installed as interim president. Simultaneously, security forces took control of state media buildings, including the Maspero television complex, and arrested several senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Aftermath and consequences

The immediate aftermath saw the formation of an interim government and a violent crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins, most notably the August 2013 Rabaa massacre in Cairo. The Muslim Brotherhood was outlawed and designated a terrorist organization by the Cabinet of Egypt, leading to thousands of arrests and death sentences for figures like Mohamed Badie. A new constitution was approved via a 2014 referendum, followed by presidential elections won by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The period saw a severe restriction of civil liberties, the passage of restrictive protest laws, and a marked decline in the political influence of Islamist groups, while the Egyptian Armed Forces and security apparatus consolidated power.

International reactions

International responses were deeply divided. Regional powers like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait provided immediate financial support to the new authorities, while Qatar and Turkey condemned the overthrow. The United States avoided legally terming the event a "coup," which would have triggered an aid cutoff to the Egyptian military, but did suspend some military deliveries. The African Union temporarily suspended Egypt's membership, and organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International issued strong condemnations of the subsequent violence. The European Union called for a return to democratic governance and an inclusive political process.

Legal and political analysis

The event sparked intense debate over its legal characterization, with the new authorities describing it as a response to the popular will and the fulfillment of the June 2013 Egyptian protests, while opponents and some scholars labeled it a military coup. The subsequent political process, including the 2014 and 2018 elections, has been criticized by groups like the International Crisis Group for lacking genuine competition. The post-coup period has been analyzed as a restoration of the deep state and the pre-Arab Spring authoritarian order, with a significant rollback of the democratic gains from the 2011 Egyptian revolution.

Category:2013 in Egypt Category:Coups d'état in Africa Category:July 2013 events in Africa