British FM in Egypt to ‘deepen’ ties

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has made his first visit to Egypt to “deepen the strength” of mutual ties, amid calls by human rights groups to shed light on the human rights situation in the Middle Eastern country.

In his meeting with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry on Saturday, Johnson discussed trade and finalized a $150 million loan guarantee agreement to Cairo.

The British loan is part of a $6 billion third-party funding Egypt needs to secure a three-year, $12 billion loan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

London had announced its support for the loan in November, arguing it was vital “to help the Egyptian economy realize its immense potential.”

Ahead of his trip, Johnson called the UK “Egypt's top economic partner” and said he would hold talks with British investors and Egyptian entrepreneurs during the visit.

According to UK Foreign Office, investment by British companies in the North African country surpassed $30 billion in 2016.

Before Johnson’s visit, British human rights organizations including Reprieve urged the foreign secretary to raise the issue of human rights in his meetings with Egyptian officials.

The Egyptian government has been cracking down on opposition since former president, Mohamed Morsi, was ousted in a military coup led by then army chief al-Sisi in July 2013.

Rights groups say the army’s crackdown on the supporters of Morsi has led to the deaths of over 1,400 people and arrest of 22,000 others, including hundreds of people who have been sentenced to death in mass trials.

SS