[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
9 death sentences carried out in relation to 2013 Kerdasa violence
Nine people were executed by the Prison Authority on Monday morning at the Wadi Natrun Prison Complex in Beheira, news outlets reported.
Joint Press Release: Will Egypt compete for the world’s worst executioner in 2021?
The Campaign to Stop the Death Penalty in Egypt and the undersigned human rights organizations strongly condemn and categorically reject the Egyptian government’s expansion of the implementation of the death penalty, with new reports indicating that the Prisons Authority in Wadi Al-Natrun Prison on April 28 executed seven convicts in the case known as “the storming of Kerdasa police station.”
Egypt: Government must end relentless attempt to “eradicate” independent civil society
The current NGO law, while still not in compliance with Egypt’s constitution and international human rights obligations, does represent a relatively less restrictive framework compared to other authoritarian legislation enacted under president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. However, a technical focus on this particular law without reference to the wider policies and actions of the Egyptian government towards independent civil society fails to provide an accurate assessment of the situation for civil society in Egypt.
74 Ngos Urge Egyptian Authorities To Release Researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy
The undersigned organizations call upon the Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release twenty-nine-year-old student and researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy, who has been arbitrarily detained since 1 February 2021 on bogus terrorism-related charges. The undersigned organizations further call on the authorities to ensure prompt, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigations into Ahmed Samir Santawy’s allegations of being subjected to enforced disappearance and ill-treatment by security forces following his arrest.
Egypt's information minister Osama Heikal resigns amid parliamentary criticism
Egypt’s information minister Osama Heikal on Sunday submitted his resignation from his post, cabinet spokesman Nader Saad said.
Trade unions demand representation in legislation, commend return of Egyptian labor to Libya
The General Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions prized in a Saturday statement Egypt’s handling of the Libyan issue and deciding to allow Egyptian workers to return to Libya.
Foreign Policy
Ethiopia rejects regional, international mediation to solve GERD crisis: FM Shoukry tells Senate
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Wednesday that Ethiopia has turned down regional and international mediation to solve the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis.
Egypt will not give up a single drop of its Nile water share: PM
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Tuesday said “Egypt will not give up a single drop of its share of the Nile water,” local media reported, shortly after Ethiopia called the historic water-sharing treaties on the River Nile “unacceptable”.
Egypt’s ambassador to US says time for Washington to save GERD talks: Foreign Policy
Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States Motaz Zahran highlighted the necessity that the US acts now to save the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations, warning against the impact of the talks' failure on the entire region as well as the West.
Egypt's FM arrives in Tunisia, last stop in African tour on GERD crisis
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry delivered a message on Thursday from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied to explain Egypt's stance on the recent developments in the stalled negotiations over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
Egypt FM delivers a message from Sisi to Senegalese president over GERD
Shoukry stressed Egypt's hope to work with various countries and parties concerned to solve the issue in a way that would prevent harm to the security and stability of the region, a statement by the foreign ministry said.
Egypt's FM discusses GERD issue with Nigerien president
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry delivered a message on Wednesday from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to his Nigerien counterpart Mohamed Bazoum over the latest developments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Egypt’s position in this regard, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
Egypt, Canada hold intensive meetings on GERD issue
Egypt’s Ambassador to Canada Ahmed Abou Zeid is currently holding intensive meetings with representatives from Canada’s House of Commons and Senate to present Egypt’s vision on the Ethiopian dam crisis.
Egypt stands firm in support of Palestinian cause: FM Shoukry tells UN Mideast peace coordinator
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed the state’s firm stance in support of the Palestinian cause.
Egypt Condemns Violence Against Palestinians in East Jerusalem
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has publicly denounced violence from far-right Jewish protesters against Palestinians which unfolded last week.
Egypt, Jordan urge Israel to halt attacks, provocative measures in Jerusalem
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi called on Israel on Saturday to "stop all attacks and provocative measures” in Jerusalem to restore calm and end tensions that have been mounting in the past few days in the holy city.
Egypt affirms support for political solution in Yemen
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry has reiterated his country’s firm position in supporting all efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis.
Sisi, Abu Dhabi crown prince agree on boosting cooperation to protect Arab security
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed agreed on boosting Egyptian-Emirati cooperation to protect Arab national security and seek political settlement in regional issues as they met in Cairo on Saturday.
Sisi discusses US-Egyptian relations with Head of World Jewish Congress
During a meeting with Ronald S. Lauder, the head of the World Jewish Congress, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said crises besetting the region require regular cooperation and consultations between Egypt and the United States to deal with all threats and combat extremist and terrorist ideologies to achieve security and stability.
Egypt, US sign MoU to exchange military logistic services
Egypt and the US signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the exchange of logistic support, supplies and services between Egyptian and US military forces, the US embassy in Cairo said.
Economy
MPs give nod to exempt Tahya Masr Fund, partners from ‘all future taxes’
New amendments are set to exempt the Tahya Masr Fund, a black-box account for donations which falls directly under the president’s supervision, as well as any private or public bodies the fund is contracting with from taxes and fees.
Egypt harvests 1.2 million feddans of wheat since beginning of domestic season
Egypt said on Sunday it has harvested around 1.2 million feddans of wheat since the beginning of its domestic wheat harvest season in mid-April.
Egypt allocates EGP 132 bln to modernise railway system: Transport minister
Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir said as many as 153 projects are currently being implemented to modernise the country's railway system, twenty-seven of which are included in the ministry's budget for the coming fiscal year, with a total cost of 132 billion Egyptian pounds (nearly 8.2 billion US dollars).
Egypt’s agricultural exports up to 2.7 million tons from January to April
The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation announced Friday that the volume of agricultural exports has increased to more than 2.7 million tons from January 1 to April 27.
Egypt’s Finance Ministry to issue T-bills, T-bonds worth total of EGP 198bn in May
Egypt’s Ministry of Finance has revealed its intention to offer Treasury bills (T-bills) and T-bonds worth a total of 198 billion Egyptian pounds during May.
Egyptian Government to disburse export subsidy arrears on 17 June
Egypt’s Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait has announced that the Egyptian Government will continue to pay overdue amounts to exporting companies with the Export Development and Support Fund.
Egypt’s foreign currency deposits declines to EGP 644.4 mln: CBE
Banking deposits, in foreign currencies, in Egyptian banks witnessed a decline by the end of March to record the equivalent of 644.4 million Egyptian pounds (41.1 million US dollars), down from 649.8 million Egyptian pounds in January and 666.6 billion Egyptian pounds by end of FY2019/2020, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced.
Egypt’s central bank maintains current key interest rates for third consecutive time in 2021
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) decided on Wednesday to keep the current interest rates unchanged for the third time in a row in 2021.
Egyptian exporters received EGP 25.5 bln from their arrears since March 2020: Finance minister
Egypt’s Ministry of Finance has disbursed a total of 25.5 billion Egyptian pounds from exporters arrears since the onset of the pandemic in Egypt in March 2020 through six initiatives aimed to support the export sector, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait announced on Thursday.
Egypt, Libya discuss boosting investments
Chairman of the General Authority of Free Zones and Investments (GAFI) Mohamed Abdel-Wahab discussed on Thursday with head of the Libyan Investment Authority Ali Mahmoud Hassan stepping up investments between the two sides. Abdel-Wahab said the meeting tackled joint investment opportunities and addressed the means to facilitate the flow of Libyan investments to Egypt.
Three Ever Given crew members to leave the ship
Three crew members aboard the cargo vessel that blocked global shipping in the Suez Canal last month will be allowed to return home, the ship's manager said on Thursday.
Egyptian Armed Forces sign protocols for housing, investment projects
Egypt’s Minister of Public Enterprise Sector Hisham Tawfik has witnessed his ministry’s signing of cooperation protocols with the Armed Forces relating to housing and investment projects.
Egypt launches 'National Program for Economic Restructural Reforms'
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli announced Tuesday launching the 'National Program for Economic Restructural Reforms' in a convention with strategic development partners, and a number of ministers, parliamentarians, members of industrial and trade unions as well as representatives of NGOs.
Domestic Security
Egypt renews curfew in designated areas of North Sinai
Egypt has renewed on Sunday a nighttime curfew in designated areas of North Sinai per a presidential decree to renew an already in effect state of emergency for three months starting 25 April.
Presidential decree extending state of emergency in Egypt three months
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued Sunday Presidential Decree No. 174 for the Year 2021 ratifying the extension of a nationwide state of emergency for three months.
Transport minister seeks legislation to fire 'extremists' working in railway sector
The Egyptian transport minister has asked the House of Representatives to introduce legislation that would allow the dismissal of extremists, saboteurs, and drug users working at the country's railway facility, which recently saw a series of deadly accidents.
Egypt’s prosecution detains railway worker as one killed in Suez train crash
Egypt’s Public Prosecution ordered on Tuesday the detention of a railway technician responsible for manually closing level crossing barriers in a Suez village in the wake of a train crash that killed one.
Twenty-three railway employees have been detained pending investigation into their involvement in the Toukh train crash earlier this week that has left at least twenty-three dead and 139 injured, according to updated figures in a Public Prosecution statement.
Over 45% of isolation hospitals' capacity still vacant, Egypt's health ministry says
Egypt's health ministry said on Tuesday that over forty-five percent of the capacity of hospitals treating coronavirus cases nationwide is unoccupied, denying reports on resorting to university hostels to deal with COVID-19 patients as the country is witnessing a third wave of the pandemic.
61 doctors died from coronavirus since start of April: Egypt’s medical syndicate
Sixty-one doctors have died from coronavirus since the start of April, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate has announced.
Lawmakers, their families receive privileged vaccine access ahead of priority groups
Legislators and their families are getting vaccinated and are being allowed to choose between the AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines despite the Health Ministry’s repeated statements that people will have no say in which shots they receive.
Egypt en route to coronavirus vaccine production
Officially, Egypt will locally produce China’s Sinovac and Russian Sputnik V vaccines and is planning to secure millions of doses annually as part of the state’s industry localization plan.
2K residents of Batn al-Baqara slum to move to fully-furnished units in Asmarat
Residents of Cairo slum area of Batn al-Baqara started to move to new fully furnished housing units as part of a governmental plan to develop slum areas and provide quality life to residents.
From Jadaliyya
The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade: Egypt and the Military Mobilization of History
For this regime, no logic exists outside the circle of the military & security, & anything existing on its margins will rapidly be conscripted into service.
Ziad Fahmy, Street Sounds: Listening to Everyday Life in Modern Egypt (New Texts Out Now)
"Street Sounds" is the first historical examination of the changing soundscapes of twentieth-century Egypt.
Arabic
الحماية الاجتماعية في «موازنة كورونا الثانية»
The article discusses Egypt’s social protection program (FY 2021/2022) against the health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
لم يعد عند «جهينة» الخبر اليقين
The article sheds light on Egypt’s Juhayna Food Industries crisis, following chairman's arrest on alleged “financial irregularities" since December 2020.
قروض محدودي الدخل تصل منتهية الصلاحية
The article discusses how the state-run loan program further exacerbates financial pressure on Low-income citizens.
إخلاء سبيل ثلاثة من موكلي المبادرة المصرية المحبوسين على خلفية تظاهرات سبتمبر 2020
The Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered released three defendants in Case No. 880 of 2020, known as “September 2020 Protests”.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights condemned the targeted killing of Copts in Sinai by the Islamic State and called on authorities to protect Sinai inhabitants
عيد بأي حال عدت يا عيد.. العمال بين أحكام بالسجن واحتجاجات وتشريد ومطاردات شبح الخصخصة والتصفية
The struggle continues for Egyptian workers as they face unemployment due to the state’s plan to privatize and liquidate more companies.
New Cairo Lawyers Syndicate issued ten decisions to provide legal and financial support to lawyers detained in political cases.
Aymen Abdel Moaty faces horrific conditions in Prison, as Cairo Criminal Court renewed his pre-trial detention for forty-five days, according to his wife.