██████████████████████████████ Uninstalling dictator … 100% complete! Egypt: The inspirational story #In Pictures

The inspirational story of the Egyptian revolution…

This is Khaled Said; the young Egyptian that inspired the protests. Said, 28, was beaten to death by Egyptian police in June. Police initially reported his death as drug-related.

Wael Ghonim, Google’s marketing chief for the Middle East and North Africa created a Facebook page titled “We are all Khaled Said” after Said’s death. The Facebook page went viral and the public had a rallying point.

The movement inspired many in Egyot, young and old to ask for a change in government and a better life for Egyptians

Thousands of Egyptians vowed not to stop protesting until President Mubarak steps down as President.

Social media was an important mobilization tool during the revolts. This goes to show that contrary to what citics say, social media can effect change.

On February 11, 2011, like Tunisia, Egyptians succeeded in uninstalling their dictator of 30 years to great jubilation.

Which African country is next?

• Ben Ali of Tunisia – 23 years – 1988 – 2011
  
• Hosni Mubarak of Egypt – 30 years – since 1981 – ███████████████████████ Uninstalling dictator … 100% complete!
• Moummar Ghaddfi of Libya – 42 years – since 1969
• Mbasago of Equatorial Guinea – 32 years – since 1979
• Jose Santos of Angola – 32 years – since 1979
• Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe – 31 years – since 1980
• Paul Biya of Cameroon – 29 years – since 1982
• Yoweri Museveni of Uganda – 25 years – since 1986
• Blaise Campore of Burkina Fasso – 24 years since 1987
• Mswati III of Swaziland – 24 years – since April 1986
• Omar Bashir of Sudan – 21 years – since 1989
• Idrissu Deby of Chad – 21 years – since 1990
• Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea – 18 years – since 1993
• Yahya Jammeh of Gambia – 17 years – since 1994
• Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia – 20 years – since 1991
• Pakalitha Mosisili (Lesotho) – 13 years – since 1998;
• Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti – 12 years – since 1999
• Mohammed VI of Morocco – 12 years – since 1999
• Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast – 11 years+ – since 2000
• Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal) – 11 years – since 2000
• Paul Kagame (Rwanda) – 11 years – since 2000

Even in African countries without long sitting dictators, many like Nigeria have their own “Mubaraks” in the form of corruption, poor infrastructure and lack of public accountability. Perhaps this is the year of true change on the continent. Africans should demand for change from their public officials if they are not satisfied with the status quo.

Spread the word and inspire the continent!

Power to the people!

Images via Reuters, various sources on the web

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