US to withhold Egypt’s military aid over political detentions, human rights violations

Africa, News, US September 15, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States plans to withhold at least $85 million of military aid funds for Egypt due to Cairo’s political detentions and human rights violations. A U.S. Senator has proposed to redirect Egypt’s military aid to Taiwan and Lebanon.

According to a Congressional notification, $85 million in military aid to Egypt would be withheld because of Cairo’s failure to meet the U.S. conditions on freeing political prisoners and addressing other human rights issues in the country.

A U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, urged the Biden administration to withhold an additional $230 million from Egypt’s military aid and redirect the funds to Taiwan.

“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 as he spoke to reporters on the matter. “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.

A U.S. State Department’s letter to the U.S. Congress revealed that of the $85 million that is being withheld, $55 million will be redirected to Taiwan, and the remaining $30 million to Lebanon. The Egyptian embassy in Washington has not responded to the matter so far.

Political imprisonments and human rights in Egypt

Egypt’s current administration under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses including torture and enforced disappearances of its political rivals.

Egyptian authorities have assured their Western allies of taking strict actions to address the country’s human rights issues by launching human rights strategy campaigns and ending the state of emergency in the country, however, critics have dismissed the efforts labeling them largely cosmetic.

Despite the release of some high-profile detainees, human rights groups estimated that the number of Egypt’s political prisoners remains in the thousands. The country also has strict restrictions on speech and media.

Biden Sisi meeting — *^{U.S. President Joe Biden with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on November 11, 2022. (Image Credit: The Egyptian Presidency/via Reuters)}*

For decades, Washington has been providing millions of dollars in military aid to Cairo. The U.S. military aid totaled up to more than $1.3 billion in the last few years. The aid, which was initiated after the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, has been used to buy weapons, systems, and services.

Last year, Washington allowed the full $75 million that was then contingent on progress on political detentions and allowed a further $95 million to go to Egypt under the counterterrorism, border security, and non-proliferation exception.

Over the last few years, Washington has been growing more and more reluctant to support Egypt through military aid citing the country’s human rights violations and political increasing internal political turmoil.