Egypt’s problem is bigger than deposed president Mohammed Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt is bound to experience more unrest and chaos. Those who bother to muse on what causes people to be disgruntled and pull down a democratically elected government will agree with that the problem is more economic and demographic than political.

Egypt’s population of 82.5 million that is cobbled on an arable land along River Nile and its delta which holds an average of 3,820 persons per square kilometers, as well as its large number of unemployed youth is bomb in waiting. 

Will the army to foil it? The army, after being bundled out of power, waited for any opportunity to lord it over whoever that stands on its way. Indeed, Morsi was standing on its way especially when he fired its former chief and king maker Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi who presided over the government after his mentor, former strong man, Hosni Mubarak was bundled out.

The military takeover has never gone well with both the opposition or the citizenry. Due to the high demand to kick the army out of power, Egyptians voted in the Muslim Brotherhood en masse. The situation at this moment was like making a choice between a rock and a hard place. Facing two evils, Egyptians opted for Muslim Brotherhood.

Now that the army is in a bigger picture once again, what should  we expect?  An anti-Morsi opposition to ascend to power and be kicked out due to the fact that it doesn’t have the edge to return Egypt to calmness? Will the fragmented anti-Morsi-opposition stand without the support of the army? If the army stands with anti-Morsi  opposition to form  government, will it stand  the pro-Morsi  forces bent on seeing that Egypt becomes ungovernable? Are staring at another Iraq or Syria in Egypt?  There is no way that the major players in Egypt namely:  the citizenry, weak opposition, Muslim Brotherhood and Army will  let go or be compromised.

As UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon put it through his spokesperson  Farhan Haq,  "This is a critical juncture in which it is imperative for Egyptians to work together to chart a peaceful return to civilian control, constitutional order, and democratic governance."

But how will Egyptians work together while they don’t pull together? Is working together the solution if a democratic government can be easily toppled?

Egypt has a long way to go. What we’re witnessing is but the beginning of a long, rough and complicated road ahead. Again, who’ll save Egypt from itself? Will the international community chip in? Who wants to be blamed for somebody else’s mess in the first place?

When Morsi was toppled, many thought that the ‘fathers’ of democracy would stand with him and demand that he be reinstated. But nay, nobody dared to step in knowing how deeper, protracted and complicated Egypt’s situation is. After deposing Morsi, the army is next in the line.

By Nkwazi Mhango

A Canada based Tanzanian and author of Saa Ya Ukombozi..