Egypt Funds Embezzled by Ousted Regime Haunt Mursi’s Rule

Aleia el-Sayed never expected President Mohamed Mursi to deliver overnight on his campaign promises of justice that Egyptians demanded in last year’s uprising. More than four months into his presidency, she did think the government would make more of an effort to do so.

Electoral pledges to retrieve billions of dollars in public funds allegedly embezzled by the former regime and retry ousted officials persuaded the 38-year-old mother of five to vote for Mursi. The failure of Mursi’s government to fulfill those promises has fed nationwide discontent over deteriorating living conditions, high unemployment and worsening security amid plans to cut subsidies of basic goods such as cooking gas and fuel.