Egypt

Fundamental information for understanding the state of political reform in Egypt

Prospects for Political Reform

» Egypt Update: The Latest

[Oct 1 2:31pm EST]

Egypt detains and deports another foreign journalist. AFP says that he was deported for his involvement in a pro-Palestine march that was also attended by Philip Rizk, a German-Egyptian dual national who had been detained for five days by Egyptian authorities for his own involvement in the march. It seems that Egypt is getting more brazen when it comes to how they treat foreigners they deem undesirable.

[Sep 13 11:04am EST]

Osama Diab writes in the Guardian’s Comment is Free about the Egyptian government using Ramadan to target secularists and enforce religious practice. This comes after a week in which over one hundred people were arrested for drinking or smoking publicly during the day.

[Sep 12 11:38am EST]

An AP reporter has an article about having to deal with day-to-day bureaucracy and corruption in Egypt.

more »

Chris Assaad, Egypt editor
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» From The POMED Wire

Egypt: Is the End of Mubarak the End of Egypt?

[Jul 27] In a recent piece in Al-Masry Al-Youm, Issandr El Amrar argues that in spite of speculations regarding President Hosni Mubarak’s health, including reports that he…

Egypt: Mubarak Has Lost Control

[Jul 27] Writing at The Huffington Post, Adel Iskander argues that on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the Egyptian republic which occurred on July 23…

The State of Political Reform

Press Freedom

Freedom on the Net
Freedom House, March 2009
Internet Enemies
Reporters Without Borders, 2009
10 Worst Countries to be a Blogger
Committee to Protect Journalists, 2009
more »

Political Institutions

NGO Bill Imperils Civil Society Funding
Arab Reform Bulletin, February 2009
Constraints on the promotion of the rule of law in Egypt: insights from the 2005 judges’ revolt
Democratization, February 2009
The Political Economy of Reform in Egypt: Understanding the Role of Institutions
Carnegie Endowment, October 2007
more »

U.S. Democracy Promotion Policy

Legislation

For an overview of U.S. legislation relating to political reform in Egypt, see the Congressional Policy and Foreign Assistance section of the Egypt backgrounder
H.R. 2764 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008
(Summary | Full Text | POMED Analysis)
H.R.2977: Egyptian Counterterrorism and Political Reform Act, 2007
(Summary | Full Text | POMED Analysis)
H.R. 2601 [109th]: Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007
(Summary | Full Text)

Congressional Hearings

Hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Appointment of Three Ambassadors
including Margaret Scobey for Egypt, February 6, 2008
(Text of Amb. Scobey’s statement | POMED Summary)
Hearing of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight: “Ideals vs. Reality in Human Rights and US Foreign Policy: the Cases of Azerbaijan, Cuba and Egypt,” July 12, 2007
(Transcript | POMED Summary)

Assistance Programs

USAID Democracy and Governance Program
Annual Program Statement 2008
MEPI in Egypt
The Middle East Partnership Initiative regional website
U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2008 Request
Congressional Research Service, July 2007

Public Statements

Secretary Hillary Clinton, Interview With Randa Aboul Azem of Al Arabiya, 3/2/2009:
QUESTION: On another issue, the State Department issued a report about criticizing the human rights record of Egypt. And what kind of – in order for Egypt to enhance its record, what do you recommend or ask Egypt to do?
SECRETARY CLINTON: We issue these reports on every country. We consider Egypt to be a friend and we engage in very forthright conversations with our friends. And so we hope that it will be taken in the spirit in which it is offered, that we all have room for improvement. The United States, as you have seen under our new President, is moving to remedy some of the problems that we have had. We view human rights as very important. It’s central to our value system and to our foreign policy, and so we want to enlist others to make progress.

Acting Deputy State Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid, Daily Press Briefing, 1/19/2009:
“We welcome the release of Ayman Nour, especially as it’s been done on medical grounds, and we view this as a positive step by the Egyptian authorities. The United States has called for this release many times in the past, and therefore, it is a good and positive move.”

President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address, 1/20/2009: “To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Presidential Candidates

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Questions over Presidential Succession in Egypt

The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Mahdi Akef, released a statement charging Gamal Mubarak, the son of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, with leading the Policies Committe of the Egyptian parliament into “all forms of corruption.” The MB initially had not contested Gamal’s entry into politics, but now fear that he will be handed the presidency without a vote.

On Sunday, Al-Masry al-Youm published an editorial from Ali El Sayed discussing a recent informal poll that ranked Ayman Nour as a more likely victor of a presidential election than Gamal Mubarak and a Facebook group’s statement enumerating Gamal Mubarak’s 20 political advantages. El Sayed sees the internet battle as an organized campaign to force Egyptians to choose between the two rivals.