CAIRO — Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted from power in the early days of the Arab Spring, has on Tuesday, February 25 died at the age of 91, according to Egyptian state television.
For many Egyptians, Mubarak became the symbol of all that was wrong with their country.
His nearly three-decade rule is recalled as a time of political repression, widespread corruption and economic stagnation for everyone but an elite few.
Many Egyptians who took to the streets in early 2011 seeking his ouster weren’t even born when the former military pilot first became president.
Mubarak spent three decades in office before a popular uprising swept Egypt.
He was found guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters during the revolution. That conviction was overturned and was freed in March 2017.
His death was confirmed by Egyptian state news on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Al-Watan website reported that he died at a military hospital.
Mubarak underwent surgery in late January. His son Alaa said on Saturday that Mubarak remained in intensive care.
Egyptians said he had no personality. He was not a natural politician. But he was brutally efficient.
He declared an emergency law — in place throughout his entire presidency — that allowed him to keep political opponents in prison without being charged or going to trial. Many of his prisoners were tortured and executed.
