Egypt in chaos

Yesterday's news that Mohamed ElBaradei, until recently Vice President of Egypt's interim government, will be charged on 19 September with “betraying the Egyptian nation by resigning from the government” at first seemed a worrying development among countless others, not least the government's arrest of the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. However, it may not be so serious because the maximum punishment that the court can impose is 1'430 dollars. On the other hand it probably illustrates very well how the government is losing control of the country despite its heavy hand, as individuals, parties, movements and grudge-settlers seize the opportunity to act irresponsibly.

Although members of the Muslim Brotherhood continue to march openly in Cairo and throughout the country, the government's blatant attempt to destroy the 80 year-old movement which has always observed its commitment to non-violence, risks that it will go underground and make life difficult for any government. There is a risk too that influential branches of the
Brotherhood' in several other countries will become more active and disruptive as a gesture to their Egyptian mentors.
Chaos is an inadequte word to describe Egypt today. If anyone should be charged with betraying the Egyptian nation it is more probably General Sisi for his indifference to the bloodshed he has caused and for his belief that he can subject and silence at least one third of his country.