Friday, August 05, 2011

The Revolutionary Command Council Museum

Al Masry Al Youm (Ola El-Saket)

A presidential decree in 1996 ordered that the 1952 Revolutionary Command Council headquarters be turned into a museum. Unlike the numerous museums erected in memory of former presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat, the building, which was originally the site of a marina for the boats of Egypt’s last monarch, King Farouk, would focus on the history of the short-lived Revolutionary Command Council (RCC).

After years of stalling, Ashraf Reda, head of the fine arts sector at the Culture Ministry, announced in April that work at the museum would resume. He even proposed devoting a hall to documenting the 25 January revolution.

The RCC was established right after the deposition of King Farouk to rule during the transitional period until an elected government could take over. General Mohamed Naguib was the RCC chairman and Nasser was vice chairman. The council remained in control until 1954, when it removed Naguib from power and chose Nasser as the head of state.

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