Former Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak Dies At 91

February 25, 2020

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak attends a meeting with South Africa's President Jacob Zuma at the presidential palace in Cairo in this October 19, 2010 file picture. Mubarak resigned as head of Egypt's ruling party on February 5, 2011, television said. Picture taken October 19, 2010. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Files (EGYPT - Tags: HEADSHOT POLITICS)

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak – ousted by the military in 2011 – has died in Cairo at the age of 91.

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 and was photographed with his grandson as he recovered.

 

On Saturday, however, Mubarak’s son Alaa said that the former president remained in intensive care.

Born in 1928, Mubarak entered the air force as a teenager and went on to play a key role in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

He became president less than a decade later, following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat.

He played a key role in the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

But despite the billions of dollars in military aid Egypt received during his time in power, unemployment, poverty and corruption continued to grow.

Discontent boiled over in January 2011, after similar protests in Tunisia led to the overthrow of the president there. Mubarak was forced to step down 18 days later.