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Egypt and South Sudan

Orla Guerin in Egypt on how the country may be returning to military rule, and Andrew Harding on how South Sudan is collapsing into civil war because of greed and ethnic conflict.

Egyptians voted in a referendum to approve the new constitution at the weekend, and though turnout was low, those who did vote were overwhelmingly in favour. The military-backed government hailed this as a triumph for democracy. But is it? Orla Guerin in Egypt found that the no-campaign were repressed, and that's not all. Many hallmarks of the previous military rule under Mubarak are back. Has Egypt come full-circle since the 2011 revolution?
In South Sudan hopes had been high when it became independent in 2011. But now Africa's youngest country risks sliding into civil war. It's not clear what sparked the current conflict, but the president has been accused of becoming a dictator and over $2.5bn of public money has been stolen by government officials. Andrew Harding also finds that the return to violent conflict is ethnically based, pitting ethnic Dinka, such as the President, against ethnic Nuer, such as the former vice-president. And now civilians are paying a high price for these men's rivalry.
Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Arlene Gregorius
Photo Credit: Ed Giles/Getty Images - An Egyptian election official holds voting slips showing 'yes' and 'no' options at a polling booth during voting for the

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11 minutes

Last on

Tue 21 Jan 2014 20:50GMT

Broadcast

  • Tue 21 Jan 2014 20:50GMT