Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Sisi Leads Military Funeral of Egypt's Former President Mubarak


Wed 26 Feb 2020 | 01:47 PM
H-Tayea

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi led on Wednesday the full-honored military funeral of former president Hosni Mubarak, who died yesterday at the age of 91.

The two sons of the late president, Alaa and Gamal, and a very big number of senior officials and military commanders, including the state's prime minister Moustafa Madbouli,  and a big number of ministers also attended the majestic funeral, in addition to delegations from many Arab and foreign countries.

The Egyptian prominent businessman Mohamed Aboul Enein also attended the funeral.

Massive numbers of Mubarak supporters, clad in black and carrying posters of the former president, rallied outside Al-Mosheir Tantawy Mosque in Cairo to send a final salute to Mubarak before being carried to his final resting place.

Through his military and political career, Mubarak made undeniable achievements and sacrifices

On Tuesday, President El-Sisi, Arab, world leaders offered condolences to Mubarak’s family and praised his service during the 1973 war with Israel but made no mention of his rule as president of the most populous Arab state. Egypt also announced three days of national mourning beginning, Wednesday.

The Egyptian media outlets paid tribute to Mubarak, focusing on his role in the 1973 war with Israel when Mubarak, a pilot by training, commanded Egypt’s air force.

It is worth mentioning that Mubarak was born on May 4th, 1928 in Egypt, and he stayed in power for three decades ended by the popular uprising of January 25th, 2011.

On 2 February 1949, he joined the Air Force Academy, gaining his commission as a pilot officer on 13 March 1950 and eventually receiving a bachelor’s degree in aviation sciences.

Mubarak served as a commander in the Egyptian Air Force from 1972-1975, before becoming president following the assassination of former President Anwar Sadat, with whom he served as his vice-president.

Many Egyptians regarded the former president as a war hero for serving as a commander of the Egyptian Air Force during the October 6 War in 1973.

Mubarak served as an Egyptian Air Force officer in various formations and units; he spent two years in a Spitfire fighter squadron. Sometime in the 1950s, he returned to the Air Force Academy as an instructor, remaining there until early 1959.