What now for Egypt without Mubarak?

Egypt must now create institutions, which, like pyramids, can stand the test of time

Egypt is one special country in the world. With over five thousand years of verifiable history, it is about the only country whose border and territory have not changed for all these thousands of years.

The world famous pyramids across its deserts are the only things that stand as tall as its history. But a new chapter for the country began on 25 January 2011.

On that day, a revolt against the country's modern day pharaoh started.

For 18 days, millions faced the might of Hosni Mubarak’s security and refused to give in to fear. The chorus of their demand that Mubarak should resign was both simple and incredible, given that the octogenarian had been in power for 30 years, during which he maintained a state of emergency to keep himself implanted in power.

On 11 February, the sheer determination of the millions who didn’t take no for an answer paid off. In a terse, 30-second announcement, the newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had taken a silent bow. It was learned later that the military escorted him out of Cairo for his own safety.

The jubilation that followed is part of the historic narrative of modern Egypt.