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7th
April 1919
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| The
release of Sa'ad Zaghloul |
In
April 1919, the British forces found themselves unable
to sooth the Egyptian people after disturbances erupted
as a result of Zaghloul's exile. More strikes followed,
the most important of which was a three-day stoppage
by state employees. Short of violent military measures,
it was impractical for the British authorities to
put an end to disturbances. In the meantime, London
had become convinced that the Allies at the peace
conference would recognize British protection over
Egypt. There was therefore no real danger in releasing
Zaghloul and his colleagues from their exile and permitting
Egyptians to present their case in London and Paris.
On the7th of April, General Allenby announced the
release of Zaghloul and on the 9th of April Rushdi
Pasha formed a new government.
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17th
April 1954
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Mohamed
Naguib's resignation and Assignment of Gamal Abdel-Nasser
to Form a New Government
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In
February 1954, after a decisive split over the future
form of government, a number of dissident political
groups, and most significantly the Ikhwan, were coming
out into the open. Mohammed Naguib seemed receptive
to a return to the earlier days of government and
was suspected of siding with the Ikhwan and others,
possibly hoping for greater personal power given their
support.
Gamal
Abdel-Nasser and most of the Free Officers forced
Naguib to resign on 23 February. Demonstrations of
popular support for Naguib followed and Naguib returned
temporarily as prime minister. This gave room for
Nasser to demonstrate his abilities, and unreliable
officers were exiled or imprisoned.
The
Liberation Rally was used as an organisation to persuade
students and trade-union members to demonstrate against
a return to parliamentary life and against the Ikhwan
and other dissident groups. Demonstrations and general
strikes followed in Cairo and Alexandria. Armed forces
expressed support for the Revolutionary Command Council
(RCC), which later announced the postponement of elections
for a constituent assembly. Anti-RCC demonstrations
were dispersed and, on 18 April, Nasser once more
became prime minister, with a cabinet that contained
most of the leading Free Officers
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18th-24th
April 1955
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The
Bandung conference
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The
Bandung conference of Afro-Asian states reflected
Gamal Abdel-Nasser's search for new sources of political
and diplomatic support. It also reflected Egypt's
fight against imperialism and military alliances.
Nasser was instrumental in getting the conference
to adopt a resolution stating Arab rights in Palestine
and to rally support for Yemen's position vis-à-vis
the southern Arabian protectorate.
Egypt's
participation marked the acceleration of an anti-Western
Egyptian policy in the Middle East. Bandung was
a turning point for Nasser; it made him appreciate
the potential for leadership that he had over the
Third World, which admired his ousting of a corrupt
monarchy and his ability to handle affairs with
Britain. The conference affirmed the Egyptian regime's
resistance to colonialism and its rejection of the
lure of military pacts with the old colonial powers.
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19th
April 1957
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Resumption
of Navigation in the Suez Canal
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In
April of 1957, following the tripartite aggression
against Egypt, Nasser submitted a plan to the United
Nations which professed adherence to the Constantinople
agreement in so far as it stipulated the unimpeded
use of the canal by ships of all nations, and promised
not to increase tolls without negotiations with those
who used the canal. Britain and France, who were still
sending their ships round the Cape, concluded that
their boycott was pointless. The first ship to pass
through the canal did so on 9 April, after paying
the toll charge in Swiss francs. |
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25th
April 1982
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Withdrawal
of Israeli Troops from Sinai and Sharm Al-Sheikh
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As
per the Camp David accords, Israeli troops had to
withdraw from Sinai, thus restoring to Egypt its full
territorial integrity. After the assassination of
President Anwar Sadat in October 1981, Hosni Mubarak
became president and took charge of supervising the
withdrawal process. Mubarak worked hard to support
the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), yet was
careful not to provoke Israel, which was still in
the process of withdrawing from Sinai.
With
the surrender of Sharm Al-Sheikh to Egypt on 25 April
1982, the withdrawal was complete. Egyptian flags
were raised in celebration in Rafah, in the north
of Sinai, and in Sharm Al-Sheikh, in the south.
Mubarak
has more than once stated that Egypt will continue
to follow the peace agreement with Israel, but will
react towards normalisation according to Israeli actions.
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28th
April 1936
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Death of King Fouad
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King
Fouad died on 28 April 1936, following the formation
of an official national delegation in February to
conduct negotiations in London on the basis of the
1930 Nahas-Henderson talks, and while the country
was preparing for elections. He was succeeded by his
young son Farouq.
Fouad was the youngest son of the Khedive Ismail.
After the death of his oldest brother and the abdication
of his nephew, King Fouad was crowned on 10 October
1917. He remained in power for nearly 20 years, during
which six governments held office. Important events
which took place during his reign included the 1919
Revolution, the February independence declaration
and the 1923 constitution. Fouad died only four months
before the signing of the 1936 Treaty. |
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