Musings From Abroad

US withholds $85 million military aid to Egypt. Here’s why

Published

8 months ago

September 15, 2023

The United States has made bold its threat to Egypt with plans to withhold $85 million in military aid over the government’s refusal to free political prisoners.

The position was made public in a congressional notification obtained quoted by Reuters and a US senator. According to the report, the Biden administration was encouraged to withhold an additional $235 million by Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, and two other sources familiar with the situation indicated a decision on those funds was anticipated soon.

“We are consulting with Congress as we finalize our actions,” said a State Department spokesperson when asked about Murphy’s comments on the Senate floor.

A State Department letter to congressional committees outlining the foreign military financing revealed that of the $85 million being withheld, $55 million will be sent to Taiwan and the remaining $30 million to Lebanon.

“The administration rightly decided to withhold that first tranche – $85 million tied to the release of political prisoners – because there’s just no question there has not been enough progress,” Senator Murphy said.

“I would urge the administration to finish the job and withhold the full $320 million … until Egypt’s human rights and democracy record improves,” he added.

According to US demand, Egypt must “make clear and consistent progress in freeing political prisoners, providing detainees with due process of law, and prohibiting the intimidation and harassment of American citizens” before receiving the $85 million.

Seth Binder of the rights organisation Project on Middle East Democracy noted that the $85 million that was withheld “is a notable turnaround from last year.” Yet, the administration would essentially be telling al-Sisi that it feels the Egyptian government has improved its record on human rights if it withholds less money than it has in the previous two years, which is just untrue.

Egypt has a depressing history of rights abuses in recent years as Egyptian authorities continued to crush all forms of peaceful dissent and stifle civic space.

“They’ve arrested tens of thousands of people, including journalists, human rights defenders, activists, protesters, artists, football fans, politicians – even very unlucky bystanders because some policemen suspected them of being Muslim Brotherhood members or critical of the authorities,” says Hussein Baoumi, Egypt researcher for Amnesty International, who now lives outside the country.

Related Topics:Egypt Featured Human Right President Joe Biden

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Musings From Abroad

US official accuses Russian troops of entering base housing US military in Niger

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a senior United States defence official quoted by Reuters, Russian military soldiers have entered an air base in Niger that is housing American troops. This action comes after the junta in Niger decided to drive out American forces.

The West African nation, which up until a coup last year had been a crucial ally for Washington’s struggle against insurgents who have killed hundreds of people and displaced millions more, had demanded that Washington remove the almost 1,000 American military personnel.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior U.S. defence official stated that Russian personnel were using a different hangar at Airbase 101, which is close to Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital city of Niamey, Niger, rather than interacting with American troops.

Russian military action brings U.S. and Russian forces closer at a time when the country’s military and diplomatic rivalry is growing more intense due to the situation in Ukraine. Reuters was the first to report on the move. It also begs the question of what would happen to US installations in the nation after a pullout.

“(The situation) is not great but in the short-term manageable,” the official said.

When questioned about the Reuters article, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin downplayed the possibility that Russian forces would approach American military assets or pose a threat to American troops.

“The Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to U.S. forces or access to our equipment,” Austin told a press conference in Honolulu.

“I’m always focused on the safety and protection of our troops … But right now, I don’t see a significant issue here in terms of our force protection.”
The Nigerien and Russian embassies in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After coups that installed forces anxious to break away from Western governments in power, the United States and its allies were obliged to withdraw their troops from many African nations. Apart from the imminent withdrawal from Niger, American forces have recently departed Chad and been expelled from Mali and Burkina Faso.

Simultaneously, Russia is attempting to reinforce its ties with African countries by portraying itself as a friendlier nation with no colonial past in the region. For instance, Mali has emerged as one of Russia’s closest African friends in recent years, thanks to the deployment of the Wagner Group mercenary force there to combat jihadist insurgents.

Russia has said that ties with the United States are “below zero” due to American financial and military support for Ukraine’s defence against Russian forces on the invader’s territory.

Musings From Abroad

Hamas leader in talks for Gaza ceasefire with Egypt, Qatar

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, spoke with Abbas Kamel, the head of Egypt’s security services, and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, as negotiations continue for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Palestinian Islamist group stated that a delegation will soon be in Egypt for additional negotiations on a cease-fire in the Gaza conflict.

The statement further stated that during the phone conversation with Egypt’s Kamel, Haniyeh had confirmed the group’s “positive spirit in studying the ceasefire proposal”.

Hamas announced on Saturday that it had received Israel’s most recent stance and would review it before responding.

An unnamed high-ranking Egyptian source was quoted by the Egyptian state-affiliated Al-Qahera News as stating that the Hamas delegation would land in Cairo within the next two days.

The visit by the Hamas delegation may happen within the next two days, according to a Palestinian official close to the mediation quoted by Reuters.

Hamas’ statement added that the negotiations to be held in Cairo aim to “mature a deal that achieves the demands of our people and ends the aggression.”

Hamas also said on Thursday that Haniyeh and the prime minister of Qatar had decided to carry on with the current negotiations to “mature a deal” through mediation by the governments of Qatar and Egypt.

Egypt has redoubled its efforts to force Israel and Hamas to resume their stalled talks to reach an agreement on a truce in Gaza.