Hosni Mubarak

Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak was a powerful Egyptian politician and military officer.

He served as the fourth president of Egypt from 1981 to 2011. Before his presidency, he was the seventh vice president under President Anwar Sadat. Mubarak's long rule lasted almost thirty years. This made him Egypt's longest-serving ruler since Muhammad Ali Pasha ruled from 1805 to 1848. His leadership shaped Egypt through many wars and political changes.

Mubarak began his career as a pilot in the Egyptian Air Force.

He joined the Air Force Academy in 1950 and earned a degree in aviation sciences. He spent time training in the Soviet Union at schools in Moscow and near Bishkek. During this time, he learned to fly jet bombers like the Ilyushin Il-28 and the Tupolev Tu-16. By 1967, he was the commander of the Air Force Academy. He worked to double the number of pilots and navigators in the service. In 1972, he became the Commander of the Air Force and the Deputy Minister of Defense.

In 1973, Mubarak played a significant role during the Yom Kippur War.

The Egyptian Air Force launched a surprise attack on the east bank of the Suez Canal. Egyptian pilots hit 90% of their targets during this mission. This success led to Mubarak being promoted to air chief marshal in 1974. Some people viewed him as a national hero for this performance. However, others disputed his level of influence. A military leader named Shahdan El-Shazly claimed that Mubarak altered documents to take more credit for the war's success.

In 1975, President Anwar Sadat appointed Mubarak as Vice President.

In this role, Mubarak acted as a diplomat for the Egyptian government. He traveled to Riyadh and Damascus to discuss peace agreements. He built important friendships with leaders like Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia. These connections helped Egypt rebuild its relationships with other Arab nations. After President Sadat was assassinated in 1981, Mubarak assumed the presidency. He was confirmed through a single-candidate referendum in 1981. He won several more terms through similar referendums in 1987, 1993, and 1999.

One of Mubarak's major achievements was returning Egypt to the Arab League.

Egypt had been suspended from the organization because of its peace treaty with Israel. By 1989, Mubarak succeeded in reinstating Egypt's membership. He also helped move the Arab League's headquarters back to Cairo. Throughout his presidency, he supported the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He also played a role in the Gulf War. His leadership helped Egypt regain a central place in the Arab world.

While Mubarak provided stability and economic growth, his governing style was repressive.

A state of emergency remained in place from 1967 until his departure. This state of emergency was used to stifle political opposition. The security services became known for their brutality. Additionally, corruption became widespread throughout the government. Although he held Egypt's first multi-party election in 2005, he won that election as well. The tension between the government and the people continued to grow over many years.

Mubarak's rule ended during the 2011 Egyptian revolution.

After 18 days of massive demonstrations, he stepped down from power. He transferred authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Following his departure, he faced legal challenges. He was ordered to stand trial for the killing of peaceful protesters during the revolution. This made him the first Arab leader to be tried in his own country's ordinary court. In 2012, a court sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The legal process for Mubarak lasted several years.

In 2013, the Court of Cassation overturned his life sentence and ordered a retrial. During a retrial in 2015, Mubarak and his sons were convicted of corruption. However, the legal situation changed again in 2017. The Court of Cassation acquitted Mubarak of the charges. He was released from custody on 24 March 2017. Mubarak died in 2020 at the age of 91. He was given a military funeral and buried near Cairo.