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:ID:       a9b3dd93-acf0-4871-a4eb-7653c2085454
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#+title: 2023-02-15

Today I had a long call with [[id:2d32c074-f195-43dc-9b3c-112a61951e2b][Zyad Elelaimy]], first long one since his release from prison after three years. I spent most of it hearing from him about his interactions and negotiations with Ahmed Shaaban from the presidency and his various staffers at the presidency acting as liaison with the three intelligence agencies, the EGIS one being Mohammed About Zeid. It seems that Shaaban is in control of everything related to internal politics, business and mass media, while others are in charge of foreign affairs (including Alaa, as he is now placing himself).

Zyad is swamped. He is very involved in negotiations for freeing political prisoners. Perhaps too involved to pay attention to the bigger picture. Yet, he is aware of his new status as an unwavering political leader. He understands party leadership will come and presidential candidacy will come eventually. He is a firm believer that our generation will bring about a democratic shift in the region. I was never an optimist but I couldn't bring myself to argue climate and capitalism with him, not while he is down there and I am up here. Yet, he strikes me as sober and empowered, within his context. I'd say he will definitely be part of Egypt's best chance, if Egypt will ever have a fair chance. 

It seems that Shaaban is in control of everything related to internal politics, business and mass media, while others are in charge of foreign affairs (including [[id:c19de0c6-5f82-4ddd-98d8-95b5f3f9926a][Alaa]], as he is now placing himself). 

Zyad asked, again, about his email which Ahmad helped set up in 2010 on my infrastructure while I was in England. He is also aware of the new generations needs and can clearly see that networking geared towards political activism is a replacement for the political party and a way to direct democracy. He asked what it would take to develop such an app, and after retelling my story with Khaled Said, I answered tens of millions over ten years.
