In 1977, the then-president of Egypt, Anwar Sadat, lifted state subsidies on a range of basic foodstuffs. Under a policy of'Infitah', or openness, the reforms were introduced as part of a wider programme of economic liberalisation. The result was catastrophic; cities across the country erupted in riots in what became known as 'the Bread Intifada'. Nearly 80 people were killed and hundreds were injured in the ensuing violence. In the intervening years, no Egyptian government has dared to tackle the country's subsidy regime - until now.
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