civil society - The Century Foundation

CAIRO, EGYPT - DECEMBER 15: City buildings are seen in front of the famous Giza Pyramids on December 15, 2016 in Cairo, Egypt. Since the 2011 Arab Spring, Egyptians have been facing a crisis, the uprising brought numerous political changes, but also economic turmoil, increased terror attacks and the unravelling of the once strong tourism sector. In recent weeks Egypt has again been hit by multiple bomb blasts, the most recent killed 26 Christians inside the St Peter and St Paul Church during Sunday mass. As Christians took to the streets chanting anti-government slogans, fears grow of an escalation in militant activity which would further deal damage to a country trying to rebuild. In recent months protests against rising fuel and food prices, calls for mass anti-government demonstrations and the continued terror attacks have seen Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, suffer a significant drop in popularity. Mr. Al-Sisi has promised change, fearing anger and desperation could lead to popular unrest, however inflation currently sits at the highest level in seven years, jobless rates are above 13percent and more than 90million people are said to be living in poverty. The outlook forced the government to seek a $12 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund, pushing the country to float the Egyptian pound to qualify for the loan. The move led to a sharp devaluation of the Egyptian pound which now sits at 18EGP to the dollar. The turmoil is affecting not only the poor but both the middle-class and the wealthy as food and commodity prices skyrocket. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

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