These events are profoundly sad. On the second anniversary of the empowering uprising that took place in Egypt, we are now witnessing the tragic dispersal of the political and social forces that brought about a significant outcome, namely the removal of an authoritarian and corrupt regime that had lasted many decades in Egypt. The promise that this revolution brought to Egypt two years ago is now on the threshold of bringing about a profound disappointment — nay, disillusionment — as the people of Egypt witness not only the divisiveness within the regime of President Mohammed Morsi, but also the dispersal of those forces and groups which could not bring themselves to transcend their narrow loyalties and restore the unity that inspired the people of Egypt and also animated the potentialities of the Arab Spring.
The National Salvation Front with Mohamed El-Baradei, Amr Moussa and Hamdeen Sabahi had a press conference on Jan 28 in which they declined the dialogue proposed by the resident. This situation suggests that the opposition — in the light of what has taken place in the last few days, especially in Port Said, Ismailai and Suez — are seeking to determine terms of reference and to agree on a credible outcome before envisioning a dialogue.