Anwar Sadat was the third President of Egypt, serving from October 15, 1970, until his assassination on October 6, 1981. Born on December 25, 1918, in Mit Abu El Kom, Egypt, Sadat came from humble beginnings in a rural village. He was one of thirteen siblings in a family that experienced financial difficulties, though his father worked as a clerk in a military hospital.

Sadat's early career was marked by his involvement in nationalist movements against British rule in Egypt. He joined the Egyptian Military Academy in 1936, where he befriended future Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Both were part of the Free Officers, a secret military group that sought to end British influence and reform Egypt’s monarchy. Their efforts culminated in the 1952 Egyptian Revolution, which overthrew King Farouk.

Sadat initially served under Nasser, holding various positions in the government, including Vice President of Egypt. When Nasser died in 1970, Sadat succeeded him as president, a transition that was not without controversy. Many viewed Sadat as a weaker figure compared to his charismatic predecessor. However, Sadat soon solidified his power by removing or marginalizing rivals and purging Nasserists from positions of influence.

One of Sadat's defining moments as president was the October 1973 Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War. Under Sadat’s leadership, Egypt, alongside Syria, launched a surprise attack against Israel in an effort to reclaim the Sinai Peninsula, which had been lost during the 1967 Six-Day War. Although the war ended in a military stalemate, it helped restore Egyptian and Arab morale and eventually led to peace negotiations with Israel.

Perhaps Sadat’s most significant political legacy was his role in initiating the peace process with Israel. In 1977, Sadat made a historic visit to Jerusalem, becoming the first Arab leader to officially visit Israel. His willingness to negotiate with Israel led to the Camp David Accords, brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1978. These accords resulted in the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, signed in 1979, in which Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. For his efforts, Sadat, along with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.

Despite international accolades, Sadat's peace efforts were deeply unpopular with many in the Arab world and within Egypt itself. His decision to recognize Israel and make peace was seen by many as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and the broader Arab struggle. This led to widespread unrest in Egypt, compounded by domestic economic difficulties and Sadat's increasingly authoritarian rule.

On October 6, 1981, during a military parade commemorating Egypt's victory in the Yom Kippur War, Sadat was assassinated by Islamist extremists within the Egyptian army who opposed his peace treaty with Israel. His death marked a significant turning point in Egyptian and Middle Eastern politics.

Sadat's legacy remains complex. On the one hand, he is remembered as a courageous leader who took bold steps towards peace with Israel, an act that fundamentally altered the dynamics of the Middle East. On the other hand, his economic policies, authoritarian rule, and the controversial peace treaty with Israel left him deeply unpopular among large segments of the Egyptian and Arab populace at the time of his death.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Sadat