1986 Egyptian conscripts riot

1986 Egyptian conscripts riot
Part of the Cold War and the Arab Cold War
Tanks in Cairo during the 1986 riots
Date 25 – 28 February 1986 Location Cairo, Egypt Result Government victory
Belligerents
Egypt Egyptian Armed Forces Egyptian Air Force	Central Security Forces
Commanders and leaders
Hosni Mubarak Ahmed Shafik Zaki Badr Ahmed Rushdi	Safwat El-Sherif Zakaria Azmi Rifaat El-Mahgoub

On 25 February 1986, around 25,000 conscripts of the Central Security Forces (CSF), a paramilitary force in Egypt, launched a mutiny in Cairo and the surrounding area. They staged violent protests as a reaction to the rumour that their three-year compulsory service would be prolonged by one additional year without any additional benefits or promotion in rank, targeting tourist areas, the United States Embassy Compound, and destroying two hotels.

The regime of Hosni Mubarak relied on the Egyptian Armed Forces to crush the poorly paid and poorly armed CSF mutineers, and the military was sent in to restore order. ^[1] The Egyptian Army deployed tanks, armoured personnel carriers and commando snipers against the rebelling conscripts, most of whom were unarmed or armed only with shields, batons, and assault rifles. The Egyptian Air Force and Army Aviation used Mil Mi-8 helicopters and Mig-21 fighter jets to attack the rebelling conscripts near Giza and in Upper Egypt. At least four to five helicopters, and three fighter jets, were used in the operation. The Air Force officer in command of the operation was Ahmed Shafik, as commander of all MiG-21 fleets in the Central Military Zone. The riot lasted for three days before it was suppressed.

According to official reports, the mutiny resulted in 107 deaths, mostly CSF personnel, with 1324 arrested. ^[2] Over 20,000 conscripts were dismissed from service with no benefits, and the agitators received correctional punishment after being tried before State Security Court for arson, violent riots, and insubordination according to penal code. Some reports related that mutiny to a conspiracy against the Minister of Interior in charge by then, Ahmed Rushdi, due to his policies. The Mubarak government promised to overhaul the CSF by raising its entry standards, increasing payment and improving living conditions in their camps. ^[3]

See also

• Egyptian Revolution of 2011
• 1977 Egyptian bread riots
• List of modern conflicts in the Middle East

References

1. H.Frisch, Guns and butter in the Egyptian Army, p.6. Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer 2001).
2. Europa Publications Limited, The Middle East & North Africa, Volume 50: p.303
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-03-17. Retrieved 2014-12-27.