Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Arab world. The country has a long tradition as the political, economic and cultural center of the region. Egypt is located in north-east Africa. With its small land bridge to the Asian continent via the Sinai Peninsula. Known worldwide for its impressive history, ancient pharaonic cultures and breathtaking archaeological sites along the Nile, Egypt is currently suffering from a worsening economic and currency crisis. The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine are weighing heavily. At the same time, Egypt's government is focusing on mega projects that are being financed by foreign debt – such as the construction of the new capital. The debt burden is growing. Read the latest news and articles from the Table.Media editorial team. Politics in Egypt The political situation in Egypt has undergone a number of changes in recent years. Egypt is a presidential republic with a mixed presidential-parliamentary system. The head of state and head of government is Abd al-Fattah as-Sisi, who was elected president in 2014 and re-elected for a second term in 2018. The political landscape in Egypt is dominated by the National Democratic Party and other smaller parties. However, there are a variety of political groups and dependent candidates, such as the incumbent president Abd al-Fattag as-Sisi's government is characterized by an authoritarian style of rule and repression against opposition forces. Freedom of expression and assembly, freedom of religion, women's rights and the death penalty – the human rights situation in Egypt has deteriorated drastically since Sisi came to power.human rights organizations regularly report on repression against critical voices, be they politicians, activists or journalists. According to the 2022 press freedom ranking, Egypt is in 168th place with an index score of 30.23 and is one of the 4.17% of territories and countries on the African continent (as of 2022) whose situation is very serious. Mass arrests, unfair trials, torture in detention and death sentences occur regularly, and corruption remains a major problem in Egypt. In September 2015, al-Sisi swore in numerous new ministers after their predecessors came under public criticism for corruption scandals. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, who had been in office until then, had also resigned. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index, Egypt ranks 130th with an index of 30 (as of 2022). With a drop of 6 places since 2015, Egypt is one of the most affected countries in North East Africa. Economy in Egypt The economy in Egypt is characterized by a very large domestic market, but its purchasing power is limited. This is because Egypt's economic situation is currently characterized by an economic and currency crisis, which is largely due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. High inflation is not only weakening consumption, but is also hampering economic growth. The shortage of foreign currency is hampering the import of international capital, despite the reforms being pursued. Nevertheless, the economy in Egypt has grown by four to five percent in recent years. In 2022, GDP in current prices is expected to have amounted to 475.23 billion US dollars. Although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) initially expects this figure to plummet in 2023, GDP is also expected to rise in the following years and exceed the 2022 figure. The inflation rate is also expected to follow a similar trajectory: in 2023, the figure is expected to rise to 21.6%, but then fall rapidly again.According to the Heritage Foundation, the country is currently ranked 151st in the Index of Economic Freedom with 49.6 points. This is the lowest score it has received in the last 20 years. In 2023, on the other hand, it recorded an increase of 0.5 points compared to the previous year. This puts Egypt below the global average.
Gaza: What Israel and Hamas are not negotiating about in Cairo
Two years after Oct. 7, Israel and Hamas meet in Cairo to negotiate the release of the Israeli hostages. Netanyahu and Trump are constantly making new statements in an attempt to keep the reins of the negotiations in their hands.
By Markus Bickel