Suez Emergency

Suez Emergency
Part of the decolonisation of Africa
British troops during an anti-fedayeen operation
Date October 1951 – June 1956 Location Suez Canal, Egypt Result Egyptian victory signing of the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1954 that led to the final withdrawal of all British troops from Egypt by June 1956
Belligerents
Egypt Wafd Party Muslim Brotherhood Fedayeen Egyptian National Police	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Mustafa al-Nahhas (Prime Minister) Hassan al-Hudaybi	George Erskine (until 1952) Francis Festing (1952–1954) Richard Hull (1954–1956)
Strength
2,000	70,000
Casualties and losses
100–150+ killed and wounded	450+ killed hundreds more wounded

The Suez Emergency (1951–1956) refers to a period of intense political and military tension between Egypt and Britain, culminating in the signing of the 1954 Anglo-Egyptian evacuation agreement that led to the final withdrawal of British troops from Egypt by June 1956.

In October 1951, the Egyptian government under the Wafd Party unilaterally canceled the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, which had allowed Britain to maintain a military presence in the Canal Zone. Egyptians viewed the British presence as colonial occupation, and there was growing anti-British sentiment.

Background

The Suez Canal was a vital waterway connecting the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, crucial for trade and military access, especially for Britain, which considered it a lifeline to its empire (especially India before 1947). Although located in Egypt, the canal was controlled by the Suez Canal Company, which was largely owned by British and French investors. British forces had been stationed in Egypt since the late 19th century, with a major base near the Suez Canal.

Events during the Emergency

From 1951 to 1954, guerrilla attacks by Egyptian fedayeen (fighters) against British troops increased. It’s worth noting that officers from the Egyptian Military supported guerrillas by providing training and equipment.

Britain responded with military crackdowns, raids, and detentions, especially in cities like Ismailia, leading to rising tensions and casualties on both sides.

Egyptian guerrillas sniping out British troops

Some remains of those British troops tortured and killed by Egyptian Nationalists during the emergency period were found in the sweet-water canal.

In January 1952, a British raid in Ismailia resulted in the death of 50 Egyptian policemen. The next day, anti-British riots erupted in Cairo (known as the Cairo fire or Black Saturday). The chaos in Cairo resulted in 9 British civilians in Cairo killed.

The 1952 coup led to the overthrow of King Farouk and the abolition of the monarchy the following year.

Aftermath

In July 1952, the Free Officers Movement, led by Muhammad Naguib Gamal Abdel Nasser, overthrew the monarchy and eventually took full control of Egypt.

The heavy casualties suffered by the British in the attacks by Egyptian Nationalists persuaded the British to signed the evacuation treaty of 1954 which led to the final withdrawal of all British troops from Egypt by June 1956.