EGYPT
Of Genies and Bottles
Hundreds of protesters clashed with Egyptian security officials Sunday in the port city of Suez, the second day of demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
On Friday, Egyptians took to the streets of several cities in defiance of a six-year ban on demonstrations following the 2013 military ouster of former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, Agence France-Presse reported.
Security forces have arrested more than 250 people since demonstrations began, the Guardian reported.
The demonstrations were set off by videos released by exiled businessman and actor Mohammed Ali accusing Sissi and the military of corruption. On Saturday, he urged Egyptians to join a “million-man march” on Friday.
Sissi has denied Ali’s charges even as the accusations have touched a nerve in the population, which has been struggling economically over the past few years. In July, one in three Egyptians lived below the poverty line – less than $1.40 a day, according to government figures.
Egypt imposed strict austerity measures beginning in 2016 in exchange for a $12 billion loan package from the International Monetary Fund. Even so, Sissi has been spending billions on large infrastructure projects such as the new capital.
No comments:
Post a Comment