Hosni Mubarak

Hosni Mubarak
Name	Hosni Mubarak
Order	4th
Office	President of Egypt
Term start	14 October 1981
Term end	11 February 2011
Predecessor	Sufi Abu Taleb (Acting)
Successor	Mohamed Hussein Tantawi (Acting)
Office2	Prime Minister of Egypt
Term start2	7 October 1981
Term end2	2 January 1982
Predecessor2	Anwar Sadat
Successor2	Ahmad Fuad Mohieddin
Birth date	4 May 1928
Birth place	Kafr El-Meselha, Kingdom of Egypt
Death date	25 February 2020
Death place	Cairo, Egypt
Party	National Democratic Party
Spouse	Suzanne Mubarak
Children	Alaa and Gamal
Allegiance	Egypt
Branch	Egyptian Air Force
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Battles	North Yemen Civil War, Yom Kippur War

Hosni Mubarak was the fourth President of Egypt, ruling from 1981 until his ouster during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. His nearly thirty-year presidency, succeeding Anwar Sadat, was characterized by a state of emergency law, close alignment with the United States, and a peace treaty with Israel. His rule ended amid massive popular protests demanding political change and economic justice, leading to his resignation and subsequent criminal trials.

Early life and military career

Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak was born in the Monufia Governorate village of Kafr El-Meselha. He graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1949 and later joined the Egyptian Air Force, where he rose rapidly through the ranks. He received further training at the Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union and served as a bomber squadron commander during the North Yemen Civil War. Appointed commander of the Egyptian Air Force and Air Defense Forces in 1972, he was credited with planning the initial successful air strikes in the Yom Kippur War against Israel, a performance that earned him promotion to Air Chief Marshal and national hero status. His military success brought him to the attention of President Anwar Sadat, who appointed him Vice President in 1975.

Presidency

Mubarak assumed the presidency on 14 October 1981, following the Assassination of Anwar Sadat by Islamist extremists. He began his rule by releasing political prisoners detained by Sadat but soon reinstated the state of emergency, which remained in force for his entire tenure. Initially seen as a cautious leader restoring stability, his administration became increasingly authoritarian, dominated by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). Power was centralized within the Palace of Heliopolis, with significant influence later wielded by his son, Gamal Mubarak, whose political and business ascendancy fueled speculation about a hereditary succession.

Foreign policy

Mubarak maintained Egypt's strategic alignment with the United States, becoming a major recipient of U.S. military and economic aid and a key mediator in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He upheld the peace treaty with Israel and often hosted negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Regionally, he led Arab opposition to Saddam Hussein's Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, contributing troops to the Gulf War coalition. His government maintained a complex relationship with Hamas, controlling the Rafah Border Crossing into the Gaza Strip and acting as an intermittent broker between the group and Israel.

Domestic policy and economy

Domestically, Mubarak's rule promoted economic liberalization and privatization programs, often directed by figures like Youssef Boutros-Ghali. While these policies spurred growth in sectors like telecommunications and attracted foreign investment, they also exacerbated inequality, corruption, and persistent unemployment. Political life was tightly controlled, with regular but widely criticized presidential referendums and multi-candidate elections. Opposition, particularly from the Muslim Brotherhood, was suppressed through security crackdowns, electoral manipulation, and military tribunals, with the Ministry of Interior's State Security Investigations Service playing a key role.

2011 revolution and ouster

Inspired by the Tunisian Revolution, mass protests erupted across Egypt on 25 January 2011, centered on Tahrir Square in Cairo. The 2011 Egyptian revolution, demanding "bread, freedom, social justice," was fueled by decades of political repression, police brutality, economic stagnation, and the prospect of Gamal Mubarak's succession. After weeks of protests and violent clashes with security forces and pro-regime supporters, the Egyptian Armed Forces, led by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, withdrew support. Mubarak resigned on 11 February 2011, transferring power to the military council.

Trial, conviction, and later life

In August 2011, Mubarak was put on trial before the Cairo Criminal Court, facing charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters. In June 2012, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in the deaths of demonstrators. This verdict was overturned on appeal in 2013, leading to a retrial. In 2014, he and his sons, Alaa Mubarak and Gamal Mubarak, were convicted on separate charges of embezzling public funds for presidential palace renovations. After years of detention in military hospitals, including at Maadi Military Hospital, all convictions related to protester deaths were finally dismissed in 2017. He was released from custody in March 2017 and lived privately in Cairo until his death at age 91 on 25 February 2020. He was buried in a military funeral at the Heliopolis mosque.

Category:Presidents of Egypt Category:1928 births Category:2020 deaths