Egypt Celebrates "Evacuation Day"

Seventy years after the end of the British occupation of Egypt, Egyptians continued to celebrate the holiday of “Evacuation Day,” commemorating the leaving of the last British troops from the Suez Canal and the proclmation of Republic of Egypt on June 8, 1952.

It marked the end of a seventy-year occupation by the British army who used the city as the headquarters for its North African operations during the world war.

This is one of the widely celebrated national holidays, however, public institutions, ministries and offices remain open.

The free officers revolution that took place on June 23, led to the overthrow, abdication and exile of King Farouk, who ruled the county from 1920.

In 1954, Britain and Egypt inked the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement, under which Britain had to withdraw its forces during the next 20 months.

The last British soldier left territory of independent Egypt on June 13, 1956.

On June 18, a solemn ceremony was held, during which the President of Egypt raised the national flag above the last freed building in Port Said, thus officially stating the end of British troops withdrawal.