103 years ago today, February 28, 1922 (February 2, 1922, the lunar calendar), Egypt declared independence, ending seven years of Britain's "protectorate status." Egypt was occupied by Britain in 1882 and became a British "protectorate" in 1914. The Egyptian people persisted in their struggle for independence against British colonial rule. In March 1919, the "Wafferty Party"(Arabic means "delegation") led by the leader of the independence movement, Cherul, asked the British High Commissioner to Egypt to go to London to negotiate with the British government on the issue of Egyptian independence and participate in the Paris Peace Conference. The results were rejected. From 1919 to 1922, the "Waffletide Party" led an anti-independence movement, forcing Britain to recognize Egypt's independence on February 28, 1922 and announced the end of Egypt's "protectorate status." But Britain continues to retain garrison rights and other privileges in the Suez Canal area.