Riyad Pasha

Mostafa Riyad PashaGCMG (1835 or 1836–1911) was a Circassian-Eygptian statesman. His name can also be spelled Mostāfā Riāḍ Bāshā (Egyptian Arabic: مصطفى رياض باشا). He served as Prime Minister of Egypt three times during his career. His first term was between September 21, 1879 and September 10, 1881. His second term was from June 9, 1888 to May 12, 1891. His final term lasted from January 17, 1893 to April 16, 1894.

Riyad was of a Circassian family, but was said to be of Jewish ancestry.^[1] Little is known of his early life, except that, until the accession of Isma'il Pasha to the Khedivate of Egypt in 1863, he occupied a relatively humble position.^[2]

Ismail, reportedly recognizing in this obscure individual a capacity for hard work and a strong will, made him one of his ministers. When Ismail's financial straits compelled him to agree to a commission of inquiry, Riyad was named as a vice-president of the commission. He filled this office with distinction, but not to the liking of Ismail.^[2]

Khedive Ismail, however, felt compelled to nominate Riyad as a member of the first Egyptian cabinet, when he assumed the position of a constitutional monarch in 1878. For the few months this government lasted (September 1878 - April 1879) Riyad was minister of the interior. When Ismail dismissed the cabinet and attempted to resume autocratic rule, Riyad fled the country.^[2]

Upon the deposal of Ismail, in June 1879, Riyad was sent for by the British and French controllers, and he formed the first ministry under Khedive Tawfiq. His administration lasted only two years, and was overthrown by a movement with Urabi Pasha. Riyad treated the beginnings of this movement as of no consequence. In reply to a warning of what might happen he said, "But this is Egypt; such things do not happen; you say they have happened elsewhere, perhaps, but this is Egypt." He held the additional titles of Minister of Finance and Minister of Interior from 1879 to 1881.^[3] On the evening of 9 September 1881, after a military demonstration in Abdin Square, Riyad was dismissed; broken in health he went to Europe, remaining at Geneva until the fall of Urabi.^[2]

بعد سقوط عرابي، تولى رياض منصب وزير الداخلية في عهد محمد شريف باشا . كان رياض يريد إعدام عرابي ورفاقه؛ لذلك عندما أصر البريطانيون على العفو عن قادة الثورة، رفض رياض البقاء في منصبه كوزير للداخلية، واستقال في ديسمبر 1882. ^{[ 2 ]}

لم يشارك في الشؤون العامة حتى عام ١٨٨٨، حين استُدعي لتشكيل حكومة بعد إقالة نوبار باشا . أدرك حينها أن السياسة الوحيدة الممكنة لرجل دولة مصري هي العمل بتناغم مع الوكيل البريطاني، السير إيفلين بارينغ (المعروف لاحقًا باسم اللورد كرومر). وقد نجح في ذلك إلى حد كبير، إذ شهد، إن لم يكن هو من بدأ، الإلغاء الفعلي للسخرة والعديد من الإصلاحات الأخرى. إلا أن تعيين مسؤول أنجلو-هندي مستشارًا قضائيًا للخديوي قوبل بمعارضة من رياض، الذي استقال في مايو ١٨٩١. ^{[ ٢ ]}

في يناير 1893، عاد رئيساً للوزراء في عهد عباس الثاني ، بعد أن حظي بقبول نسبي لدى كل من الحزب الخديوي والحزب البريطاني. وفي أبريل 1894، استقال رياض نهائياً من منصبه بسبب اعتلال صحته. ^{[ 2 ]}