Egypt's main squares witnessed an increased deployment of security personnel after the Ministry of Interior issued instructions to beef up security ahead of the anniversary of the January 25 Revolution. The instructions, which are not public, circulated after rare anti-regime protests broke out in September 2019. The efforts seemed to have worked, with the day passing with little fanfare.

National security and general security officers affiliated with the Ministry of Interior were deployed, in addition to riot police, in anticipation of possible protests Jan. 25 in the main squares of Cairo and Giza, notably Talaat Harb Square, Tahrir Square, Esaaf Square and Ramses Square. Police forces are still deployed in those squares until the end of the week to ensure that no incidents take place.

Mohamed Ali, an Egyptian actor and former military contractor, spread calls Jan. 9 to take to the streets to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the revolution. He called on President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to open Tahrir Square and all main squares to celebrate this occasion. 

In support of Ali’s calls, social media activists launched an Arabic hashtag that translates into #TothestreetsonJan25 on Twitter. However, following the reactions on the ground, he announced on Jan. 25 that he was retiring from politics.