Egypt's Former President Hosni Mubarak Dies at 91

Wednesday 26th of February 2020

Egypt's Former President Hosni Mubarak Dies at 91

Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's president for almost 30 years who stepped down after a popular revolution in 2011, has died at the age of 91.

Mubarak served as Egypt's fourth president starting in 1981 until his removal in what became known as the Arab Spring revolution.

Mubarak was born in a rural village in the Nile Delta on May 4, 1928. He left behind a complicated legacy as his rule was partly characterized by corruption, police brutality, political repression, and entrenched economic problems.

He joined the Egyptian air force in 1949, graduating as a pilot the following year. He rose through the ranks to become the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian air force in 1972. Mubarak became a national hero the following year with reports that the Egyptian air force dealt a substantial blow to Israeli forces in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War.

Egypt's presidency said in a statement that it mourned Mubarak's death as a "military leader and war hero" and has offered its condolences to his family.