My Teenage Life in Egypt

Regional Conflict The ongoing conflict between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations continues to make the Middle East unstable. And there’s another source of regional conflict. Islam actually has two main branches, Sunni and Shia. The followers of each branch are often bitter rivals. Sometimes the rivalry breaks out into deadly violence. Egypt is almost entirely Sunni. Iran is the leader of the Shia faction. For many years, the two countries didn’t even have diplomatic relations. They finally opened embassies in 2012, but the situation could easily deteriorate in coming years. Religious strife is one of the root causes of the increasing chaos in the Middle East. Countries such as Libya, Syria, and Iraq have deep-seated divisions among a bewildering number of religious groups. They have political differences as well. This chaos shows no sign of lessening and could destabilize the entire region. Egypt would likely be drawn into any major conflict. The Outlook For thousands of years, Egyptians have faced difficulties. They have succeeded in overcoming them to become one of world’s most significant and long-lasting societies. Both Egyptians and non-Egyptians hope and believe the country will overcome these contemporary issues. 

NBC: After Arab Spring

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