Murder rate in Egypt spikes since revolution

Egypt’s homicide rate has tripled since 2009, as the country continues to experience political and social turmoil post its 2011 revolution.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released its latest study on homicide across the world, with South American countries leading the list of countries with the highest murder rates in the world.

Despite Egypt’s homicide rate almost ‘tripling’ since 2009 Egypt still has lower homicide rates than most African, Asian, and American countries, including the United States of America.

Until 2010, Egypt witnessed just over one homicide for every 100,000 people. This was even lower prior to 2005. However, after the January 25 revolution in 2011, this dramatically increased to 3.5 homicides per 100,000 people: an increase of more than 200 percent.

Among the homicide victims in Egypt, 87.8 percent are male and 12.2 percent are female. UNODC states that males form the majority of victims across the globe.

The methods of which homicide occurs have also dramatically changed since the revolution.

In 2010, 23 percent of homicides were by firearm, 21 percent by sharp objects and 56 percent were by ‘other means (such as poison, by hands, use of a blunt object and more).’

In 2011, this changed to 68 percent by firearm, 19 percent by sharp objects and 13 percent by ‘other means.’

The dramatic increase in the use of firearms can be explained by the security lax that followed the revolution. Police and government officials have often stated that weapons were looted from police stations during the 18-days of the revolution. Furthermore, the Libyan Crisis has opened another corridor for weapons to flow into Egypt.

The spike in the number of homicides can also be clearly shown by examining the murder rate in Cairo. In 2009, there was a total of 74 homicides. However, in 2010 that number increased to 200 and in 2011 it increased to 271.

Among the agendas of Egypt’s Presidential candidates and the interim government is the restoration of security. It remains to be seen whether any methods taken by the future President and government will be effective in curbing crime across the nation.

To view the full report by UNODC, click here: http://bit.ly/1kzQqB4