[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
645 prisoners released on occasion of Eid El Fitr celebrations
A total of 645 prisoners were released on Thursday, as per a presidential pardon and parole issued earlier on the occasion of Eid El-Fitr, announced the Egyptian Ministry of Interior in a statement on Thursday.
The undersigned human rights organizations condemn the continued prosecution and trial of TikTok and content creators, demanding the Egyptian authorities to stop these trials, release these defendants, and close these cases.
Egypt's parliament – the House of Representatives – on Sunday ratified amendments to six laws that were debated over the last month
Foreign Policy
UPDATED: Egypt's FM lands in Ramallah Monday to build on ceasefire in Gaza
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry landed in Ramallah on Monday in an effort to build on the recent Cairo-brokered ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
An Egyptian diplomat says two teams of Egyptian mediators are in Israel and the Palestinian territories to continue talks on firming up a cease-fire deal — and securing a long-term calm.
Egypt-sponsored ceasefire deal reached in Gaza
An Egyptian-sponsored ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and the Palestinian factions to end an eleven-day military operation in the Gaza Strip.
French-led ceasefire in Gaza ‘imminent’ as US ramps up pressure on Israel to settle outside UNSC
After several days of Egyptian pressure to reach a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, an agreement could be imminent to end the deadly bombing of Gaza as the United States moves to ramp up its pressure on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the Biden administration’s initial intransigence, according to two Egyptian sources informed of Egypt’s diplomatic communications with the US government, Palestinian factions and Israel.
Sisi praises Biden's role in Egypt-sponsored ceasefire between Palestine, Israel
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has expressed his appreciation to the US president Joe Biden for the role he played in rendering the Egyptian ceasefire deal in Gaza successful, the Presidential spokesman said on Friday, only one hour before the truce goes into effect.
Egypt’s Tahya Misr Fund convoy passes Rafah crossing en route to Gaza
Egypt’s Tahya Misr Fund convoy arrived, on Sunday, at its last stop at the Rafah crossing, in preparation to cross into to the Gaza Strip to deliver Egyptian aid to the Palestinians.
Eight Palestinians injured in Israel’s twelve-day bombing campaign of the besieged Gaza Strip crossed into Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, medical sources told Mada Masr.
Egypt FM heads to Amman for talks on building on ceasefire in Gaza
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is set to travel to Jordan on Sunday for talks about building on a Cairo-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Ethiopia's plan to go ahead unilaterally with the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will constitute a violation to international law and the 2015 Declaration of Principles that was signed by Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
Egypt prepared three scenarios to face GERD’s second filling: Irrigation minister
Egyptian Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel-Ati said on Wednesday in a TV interview with Egyptian TV channel DMC that Egypt has prepared three scenarios to deal with the Grand Renaissance Ethiopian Dam’s (GERD) second filling if Egypt and Sudan fail to reach to a legally binding agreement with Ethiopia before next July.
Egypt seeks 'clear political ground' with Turkey that satisfies both states: FM
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Friday said Egypt will seek to reach a point of contentment that there is a 'clear political ground' that meets the needs of both Egypt and Turkey, in case exploratory consultations between the two countries positively progress.
Egypt's FM says indicators of fulfilling Ula reconciliation commitments with Qatar positive
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Friday said steps to implement an agreement ending a diplomatic row between four Arab countries and Qatar is going well and indicators in this regard are all positive.
Economy
Emerging markets perform poorly in 1Q of 2021 amid COVID-19 crisis: Fitch Solutions
During the first quarter (1Q) of 2021, roughly all emerging markets performed worse than they did in the fourth quarter of 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, as according to Fitch Solutions.
New bill proposes financialization of public utilities providers
State-owned and private public services and utilities companies, including electricity, water and gas providers, may be allowed to monetize and trade their future revenues for sale to investors, after a new bill proposed last week by the Financial Regulatory Authority.
Egyptian parliament votes in favour of raising minimum bonuses, incentives for state employees
Egypt's parliament – the House of Representatives – approved on Sunday an eight-article law aimed at raising minimum bonuses and incentives granted to state employees.
Egypt, AfDB ink €145 mln agreement to update railway systems
Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat signed a financing agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on Sunday worth 145 million euros (176 million US dollars) with the objective of improving the efficiency and safety of the Egyptian railway system.
Egypt, Germany ink €57.7 mln development financing agreement
Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat inked a development financing agreement grant worth 57.7 million euros on Thursday with the German Ambassador in Cairo Cyrill Jean Nunn.
Egypt’s central bank approves new facilities for tourism sector as pandemic goes on
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has approved new facilities for the tourism sector that aim to support it amid the ongoing pandemic, the CBE announced on Wednesday.
SFE, EFG Hermes seal deal to acquire 76 percent of AIB capital by 3Q 2021
The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (SFE) and EFG Hermes Holding SAE sealed agreements to acquire seventy-six percent of the capital of the Arab Investment Bank (AIB), the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development announced on Thursday.
Ship owner says Suez Canal Authority was at fault over Ever Given grounding: lawyer
The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel's detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday.
Egyptian court says has no jurisdiction to look into appeal against impounding Ever Given
An Egyptian court ruled on Sunday that hearing an appeal against the impounding of the Ever Given ship, which had blocked Egypt's Suez Canal in March, does not fall within its jurisdiction.
Egypt offers to cut compensation claim of impounded Ever Given vessel to $550 million
Egypt has offered to cut compensation claims from the owner of the impounded Ever Given vessel, which blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March, to 550 million US dollars to settle the current judicial dispute, with the mega-ship to be allowed to leave if nearly forty percent of the sum is paid in cash.
Domestic Security
Egypt receives first shipment of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine raw material
Egypt received the first shipment on Friday of the raw material used to manufacture China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in the country, the Ministry of Health and Population announced.
Egypt extends anti-coronavirus measures till 31 May, but will open parks, beaches
The Egyptian Cabinet announced on Wednesday an extension till the end of May of anti-coronavirus measures that were set to expire on Saturday, but said public parks and beaches will be open.
Officials answer whether Egypt has black fungus cases or not
Further, Former Minister of Health and Member of the Health Committee at the House of Representatives Ashraf Hatem told Al Watan newspaper Sunday that severe viral infections coupled with heavy use of antibiotics and cortisone caused fungus infection, including black fungus.
From Jadaliyya
The Campaign to Reshape Egypt’s Cityscapes and Eliminate Informal Housing
“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Egypt has demolished whole unplanned neighborhoods, commonly referred to as ashwa’yat, and relocated thousands of its own citizens. The government has often justified its decision to demolish areas as for the sake of development, which has ranged from constructing freeways to beautifying areas for tourism.”
Arabic
ألف مبروك.. الجنايات تخلي سبيل متهمين في قضايا سياسية بتدابير احترازية بينهم وليد سعد
Cairo Criminal Court on Sunday ordered released defendants in political cases after spending months in pretrial detention.
Student researcher Ahmad Samir Santawy was assaulted in prison as he has been rotated into a new case No. 877 of 2021, according to the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.
Cairo Criminal Court adjourned activist Mohamed Salah’s hearing session to June 13, 2021. Salah is being held in Case No. 855 of 2020 over “joining a terrorist group” and “spreading fake news” charges, according to the Association for the Freedom of Thought and Expression.
«طلاب من أجل مصر».. رحلة إعداد «أبناء الدولة» تبدأ من الجامعة
The article discusses how Students for Egypt has become the dominant actor in universities across Egypt, after massive win in student elections over the past consecutive years.