Politics

US Senator blocks $75m aid to Egypt over human rights concerns

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2022

A United States Senator, Patrick Leahy, has blocked a $75 million aid to Egypt over the North African country’s poor human rights record and its failure to make progress on reforms, particularly the continued detention of over 60,000 political prisoners.

Egypt was due to benefit from an annual military aid of $1.3 billion from America but the aid has come under heavy scrutiny in the last few years as President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has consolidated control over the country and continued to squeeze the space for free speech, according to Leahy while making a push for the blockage of the funds.

Some of the money was subject to a waiver if conditions for reform aren’t met, including freeing political prisoners.

In September, the Biden administration withheld $130 million of the amount over human rights concerns but said it would allow $75 million to be paid because Egypt had released 500 political prisoners.

But Leahy, who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and has jurisdiction over spending legislation and financial assistance, has rejected the assessment justifying the aid.

“We should take this law very seriously, because the situation facing political prisoners in Egypt is deplorable,” he said.

Egypt has had a poor human rights record especially since Al-Sisi came into power with many opposition figures arbitrarily arrested and clamped into detention.

And despite making some “surface reforms” and releasing hundred political prisoners, thousands still remain behind bars, including more than 80 lawyers.

Among those still incarcerated are former presidential candidate, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who was arrested in 2018 after criticising the government and calling for a boycott of the presidential elections.

Fotouh who is in his 70s, is still in prison and is not allowed to access the prison library and has not been given a TV, books, or a magazine, according to secret security reports.

Related Topics:Aid Detention Egypt Featured Human Rights United States

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.