Egypt

Another Sisi rival at risk of exiting Egypt election race

Cairo - Muslimchronicle

Another potential challenger to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appeared in danger Tuesday of dropping out of the election race after he was accused of breaking the law with his candidacy announcement. The allegations against General Sami Anan, a former armed forces chief of staff, mean that Sisi seems to be heading towards the March polls with most of his possible rivals alreadyRead more

Egypt army says ex-military chief Sami Anan’s presidential bid is ‘incitement’

Cairo - Muslimchronicle

The Egyptian army announced in a statement that former military chief of staff and presidential candidate Sami Anan has been summoned over ‘violations’. They added that Anan allegedly forged his end of army service document therefore his decision to run in the elections amounts to incitement against the military. They did not give any further details on the kind ofRead more

Chinese, Russians shore up Middle East tourism

London - Muslimchronicle

Chinese and Russian visitors boosted Middle Eastern tourism last year following a 2016 slump as Europeans gave the area a wide berth on security fears, according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO). The Mideast region as a whole drew 58 million foreign tourists in 2017 -- a 4.8 percent rise on the previous year -- the Madrid-based WTO said in itsRead more

Egypt condemns Turkish military operation in Syria's Afrin

CAIRO - Muslimchronicle

Egypt on Sunday condemned the Turkish military operation in Syria's Kurdish-controlled Afrin region. In a statement, Egypt's Foreign Ministry described the operation as a serious threat to Syria's sovereignty. It added that the operation hampers the efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis and combat terrorism. The foreign minister reiterated Egypt's rejection of all military solutions whichRead more

Pence starts Mideast tour in Egypt amid Arab anger

Cairo - Muslimchronicle

US Vice President Mike Pence held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Saturday at the start of a delayed Middle East tour overshadowed by Arab anger over Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Controversy over President Donald Trump's decision to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem had led to the cancellation of a number of planned meetings ahead of theRead more

Pence still to head to Mideast despite govt shutdown threat

Washington - Muslimchronicle

US Vice President Mike Pence will still head to the Middle East late Friday, despite the threat of a federal government shutdown looming over Washington, his spokeswoman said. "The vice president's meetings with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel are integral to America's national security and diplomatic objectives," his press secretary Alyssa Farah said. "The vice president will travelRead more

Egypt's Sisi voices concern over lack of negotiations on Ethiopia's mega dam

CAIRO - Muslimchronicle

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Thursday his extreme concern over the lack of progress in the negotiations over the building of Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). During a joint press conference with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Sisi stressed the necessity to overcome current obstacles in ongoing negotiations over the massive dam. Sisi has also expressed understandingRead more

Egyptian president names acting intelligence chief

CAIRO - Muslimchronicle

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi appointed on Thursday Presidency Chief-of-staff Abbas Kamel as the acting chief of the General Intelligence Service (GIS). Kamel, who will remain in office until a new chief is named, replaced Khaled Fazwy as the GIS chief, according to the presidency media office. Fawzy, 61, had held the office of GIS chief since December 2014. On Sunday,Read more

Egypt’s Sisi sacks his intelligence chief

Cairo - Muslimchronicle

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has fired his powerful intelligence chief, state media said Thursday, in the latest shake-up of the country’s security services. Sisi appointed his chief-of-staff and close ally General Abbas Kamel as interim replacement for outgoing intelligence head General Khaled Fawzy, according to state media. No reason was given for the move, which comes ahead of presidentialRead more