[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Egypt and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Egypt Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to egypt@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
Political Rights
Inside a regime’s last days: Mubarak and his inner circle during the 2011 revolution
Through interviews with former presidential aides, ministers, NDP officials and security sources, Mada Masr takes an inside look at Mubarak and his inner circle in the lead up to the 2011 revolution and their attempt to salvage the regime after January 25.
Solafa and Hossam: Once inseparable, journalist couple languish in prison away from their son
Journalists Solafa Magdy and Hossam al-Sayyad are still in prison after more than a year without trial. Friends, family and colleagues spoke to Mada Masr about how their detention has affected the couple and their seven-year-old son, Khaled.
A Cairo criminal court has ordered the release of popular female TikTok influencer Haneen Hossam, who was arrested on human trafficking charges.
3,022 prisoners granted presidential pardon: Interior ministry
The ministry stated that the prisoners were released in accordance with a presidential decree issued by the president allowing prisoners, who meet certain conditions, to leave prison before finishing the remainder of their sentence.
Egypt's official gazette published on Sunday a ruling by a Cairo court placing the Muslim Brotherhood on the list of terrorist entities for a five-year period, as well as placing the group's acting Supreme Guide Mahmoud Ezzat on the terrorist lists for the same timeframe.
Ten cabinet ministers to deliver portfolios before Egypt's parliament this week
Ten Cabinet Ministers of the government of Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly will appear before the House of Representatives this week to deliver statements on the current and future programs of their portfolios.
Parliament summons 10 ministers to review government performance
Egypt’s House of Representatives has summoned ten ministers for a review of their respective ministries’ work implementing the government’s programme.
Long-delayed bylaws regulating civil society spark concern over restrictive potential
The bylaws have sparked mixed reactions by legal analysts and human rights lawyers, with some pointing to positive changes in the rules governing foreign funding while also warning that the regulations may reproduce a restrictive environment for civil society with security agencies granted the right to oversee the work of NGOs.
Mugamma revisited: Reimagining the building and the square
The government administrations housed in the infamous Mugamma building at Tahrir Square are most likely set to be replaced by a luxurious hotel, while the square itself is being renovated. Amid the digitizing of many government services and the relocation of core government functions outside the city center, several administrative departments in the building have already moved out.
Foreign Policy
Egypt FM, EU Special Representative discuss efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace process
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has briefed the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Susanna Terstal on the efforts exerted by Egypt to revive the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Egyptian MPs caution US congressmen against interfering in Egypt's internal affairs
The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and several MPs criticized on Tuesday what they called repeated attempts by some US congressmen to interfere in Egypt's internal affairs after Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry delivered a speech to parliament on the goals of Egyptian diplomacy.
Ethiopia is acting unilaterally and intransigently in the GERD dispute, Egypt's FM tells House
Ethiopia is acting unilaterally and intransigently in the GERD dispute, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told parliament on Tuesday, adding that Egypt would not allow any harm to its water rights.
Egyptian, French air forces begin joint exercise using multi-mission combat aircrafts
Egyptian and French air forces began on Saturday a joint exercise using several multi-mission combat aircrafts, a statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces' spokesman read.
Egyptian, Greek naval forces hold naval exercise in Mediterranean Sea
Egyptian naval forces held a naval military exercise in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Egyptian Armed Forces’ plan to exchange expertise with friendly and neighboring countries.
Economy
Egypt to disburse EGP 225,000 to each worker at liquidated Iron and Steel Company
Egypt’s Ministry of Public Business Sector will disburse a minimum of 255,000 Egyptian pounds in reparations for each of the 2,500 workers at the recently liquidated Egyptian Iron and Steel Company.
Egypt launches 2nd phase of export companies support initiative
Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait said on Sunday that the initiative came in implementation of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's directives to back the sector, adding that it aims at disbursing the export companies' arrears from the Export Development Fund (EDF) before the end of the current FY2020/2021 (ending in June).
Egypt needs to decrease its debt to address budget deficit: IMF
Egypt’s budget envelop is efficient amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, said Paolo Mauro, deputy director of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Department of Fiscal Affairs.
Egypt warming up for Egypt Aluminium Company rehab with EGP 13 bln estimated cost
Egypt’s government is warming up to implement the modernization project of Egyptalum, a national company for aluminum industries listed in EGX as Egypt Aluminum (EGAL), with an estimated cost of thirteen billion Egyptian pounds, Minister of Public Business Sector Hisham Tawfik announced on Monday.
Shell Egypt, Emirati Mubadala to explore for oil, natural gas in Red Sea
Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla inked a new production sharing contract between the state-owned Ganoub El-Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) and Shell Egypt to explore for oil and natural gas in the deep waters of the Red Sea.
Egypt to establish industrial zone, expand private sector role in Sudan: Trade minister
Egypt is planning to establish an industrial zone in Sudan to facilitate the set-up of joint projects. The strategy will be implemented by the private sector to boost the economic integration between the two sides, Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Niveen Gamea said on Thursday.
Domestic Security
The ministry’s decision to allow doctors to choose between the two vaccines has stoked suspicion, according to Doctors Syndicate member Kareem Mesbah. For Mesbah, one of the major reasons doctors have declined to participate in the vaccination program comes down to a crisis of confidence in the ministry.
1,315 medical staff vaccinated against COVID in first four days of inoculation in Egypt
Egypt’s Ministry of Health said in a statement on Friday that 1,315 of the medical staff nationwide have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at twenty-two isolation and fever hospitals since last Monday and up until Thursday.
From Jadaliyya
Powerful Scholars and Clerics of Power: Remembering Shaykh Emad Effat
“One of the main reasons Shaykh Emad’s example continues to resonate is because of how rare he was as a member of the religious establishment. When one looks at the geopolitics of the region following 2011, there is much to observe, but one of the most fascinating, because of its transnational impact, is how religious geopolitics of the region have played into the basic divisions”, H. A. Hellyer writes.
Arabic
كتبها بنفسه – أنا بيتقبض عليا – فهل سيتحرك النائب العام؟ القبض على رسام الكاريكاتير البارز أشرف حمدي
Cartoonist Ashraf Hamdi was arrested hours after publishing a video to commemorate the anniversary of the January 25 Revolution, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
State Security Prosecution renewed the preventive detention of journalist Shaimaa Sami for additional fifteen days over a new case no. 65 of 2021.
The Reform and Development party criticized the referral of MP Mohamed Abdel-Alim Dawoud to the Ethics Committee over corruption claims.
10 أيام على اختفاء المحامي إسلام سلامة بعد إخلاء سبيله دون تنفيذ.. وأسرته: ابننا فين؟
The family of lawyer Islam Salama renewed calls for information into his disappearance.