Crisis Chronology

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EGYPT

02/16/2024

Satellite photos show Egypt building a wall on its border with Gaza near the city of Rafah in advance of Israel’s assault on that city, in order to prevent Gazans from fleeing to Egypt.

12/26/2023

Egypt proposes a ceasefire plan but neither Israel nor Hamas shows any interest or responds.

10/06/2023

Egyptian sovereign dollar bonds further downgraded.

10/02/2023

Sisi formally announces candidacy for president. In a speech, he says that Egyptians may have to suffer hunger and thirst, as if in a war, in order for the country to progress economically. Critics say that many of the government projects are unnecessary and economically unimportant.

09/25/2023

Presidential election scheduled for December 10-12, with the winner to be announced on 12/18, though final results will not be available until 1/24. The voting is mainly a formality, as Sisi is expected to announce his candidacy and no real opposition is allowed. The economy is badly strained, however, with inflation rising precipitously in recent months and the currency losing value. The government is expected to switch to a flexible exchange rate for the currency, which could exacerbate tensions.

08/24/2023

At BRICS summit meeting, the group invites six countries to become members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

05/03/2023

Government begins national dialogue with opposition. However, as opposition members continue to be arrested and other aspects of government control continue, many see it as little more than an attempt at good public relations.

11/20/2022

Turkish President Erdogan and Egyptian President el-Sisi meet, the first meeting between the two countries since their opposition over the Egyption coup of 2013.

05/29/2022

Court convicts Muslim Brotherhood leader Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh and several others to lengthy jail sentences for spreading false news and plotting to overthrow the state.

04/25/2022

Leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE meet to discuss tension in Jerusalem and call on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to stop measures that undermine the two-state solution and return to serious negotiations.

03/27/2022

Israel hosts meeting with representatives of Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, and the US.

03/23/2022

Leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel meet for the first time.

03/21/2022

As the war in Ukraine devastates its own production of wheat as well as Russia’s and sends wheat prices soaring, government fixes cost of bread in the aim of forestalling civil unrest. Egypt is the world’s largest importer of wheat.

01/18/2022

Government raises minimum wage by 13%.

11/17/2021

Qatar and Egypt agree to supply Gaza with fuel and building materials.

10/25/2021

Government rescinds state of emergency ordered in 2017.

09/04/2021

Syria announces agreement to supply Lebanon with Jordanian electricity and Egyptian natural gas through Syrian territory.

09/03/2021

Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority's Mahmoud Abbas meet in Cairo to discuss the peace process and the two-state solution to the conflict with Israel.

08/27/2021

Opening of summit meeting in Iraq of Middle Eastern countries aimed at promoting stability in the region. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II have said they will attend, as has French President Emmanuel Macron, the only official expected from outside the region. Leaders from Saudi Arabia and Turkey were also invited. Iranian president Raisi has been invited, but has not responded, but the Iranian foreign minister will attend.

07/05/2021

Ethiopia begins filling GERD again, angering Egypt.

05/20/2021

Israel and Gaza agree to a ceasefire, brokered by Egypt.

04/06/2021

Talks on the GARD break down. Sudan and Egypt are concerned about Ethiopia’s plans. Sudan also disagreed with the final statement.

03/31/2021

Egypt’s al-Sisi warns that Egypt will not give up any of the Nile water, he also seems to be willing to continue negotiations with Ethiopia.

01/05/2021

Qatar blockade ended

Saudi Arabia announces that the Gulf states -- Kuwait, Bahrein, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates – along with Egypt have agreed to end their blockade of and restore full diplomatic ties with Qatar in an agreement on “solidarity and stability” for the region.

01/03/2021

Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt resume talks about the dam on the Nile.

11/23/2020

First day of second-round voting for parliament.

10/24/2020

Voting for parliament begins, with el-Sissi loyalists expected to dominate the outcome. A second round of voting will be held 11/7-8 and runoffs will be held in December.

10/08/2020

Widespread protests across the country, notably in rural areas. They have been going on since 9/20, the anniversary or protests against corruption, but authorities have suppressed them and reporting on them. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated tourism, inflation has raised the price of bread and subway tickets, and the government has reduced subsidies on electricity and begun a campaign of tearing down houses built without permits.

09/25/2020

Protests against corruption and declining living standards in what are being called “Friday of Anger” rallies.

08/27/2020

Greece ratifies maritime boundary agreement with Egypt allowing each country to seek maximum benefit from the resources available in an exclusive economic zone, including oil and gas reserves.

08/16/2020

Egypt and Sudan express optimism about negotiations about GERD with Ethiopia.

07/20/2020

Parliament approves resolution to allow the military to intervene in Libya.

06/24/2020

Speaker of the eastern parliament asks Egypt to intervene of the GNA attacks Sirte.

06/22/2020

Libyan government calls Egypt’s talk of direct intervention in Libya a “declaration of war.”

06/20/2020

Pres el-Sisi says that if the Libyan GNA advance on the city of Sirte, Egypt may have to intervene because the border with Libya is very porous.

06/07/2020

Egypt offers cease-fire plan approved by Hiftar, but GNA says that it will not consider discussions until it has recaptured Sirte and an inland airbase, Jufra.

05/15/2020

Sisi cracking down on families in Egypt of dissenters wo have moved abroad.

04/28/2020

Government extends state of emergency for three months due to COVID-19. Egypt has about 4200 cases and 330 deaths.

03/19/2020

Government imposes a curfew on restaurants, nightclubs, cafes, and public places from 7 pm to 6 am and suspends airplace flights into Egypt until 3/31.

02/14/2020

Egypt confirms its first case of COVID-19.

01/16/2020

Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan agree that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam can begin filling during the wet season of 2020. Though Ethiopia wants the dam to be completely filled within seven years, Egypt is worried that it will remove too much water from the Blue Nile. Egypt is already in a water shortage.

12/17/2019

Egypt Pres al-Sisi warns Ethiopia against threatening military action to protect the building of the new Nile dam, the Grand Ethiopiean Renaissance Dam (GERD). Abiy had said in 10/19 that “no might” will prevent the dam from being built.

12/17/2019

11/11/2019

EU Council adopts a framework for sanctions on those conducting unauthorized drilling off Cyprus.

11/07/2019

Cyprus signs exploitation license with the Aphrodite consortium, Noble Energy, Shell and Delek Drilling. The plan calls for an undersea pipeline that will transport the Aphrodite field’s natural gas to Egypt’s Idku LNG plant, where it will liquified and exported to European and international markets.

11/06/2019

Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan pledge to continue to look for a satisfactory agreement about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a huge hydroelectric power project that will make Ethiopia a major power exporter on the continent. Sudan and Egypt fear it will seriously reduce water supply downstream. Egypt, which takes 90% of its drinking water from the Nile, has experienced water shortages in recent years.

10/06/2019

Mahdi issues reforms, including land distributions, military enlistment and increased welfare stipends for needy families, after nearly a hundred have been killed in protests in various parts of the country.

10/01/2019

Activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah arrested.

09/21/2019

Protests against Sisi in multiple cities, let by Mohammed Ali, now in exile in Spain.

04/20/2019

Egyptians voting 4/20 through 4/22 on amendments and changes to the constitution that will strengthen the president’s powers. The president’s term would be increased to six years and add two years to Sisi’s current term and allow him to run for election in 2024. Another would create a Senate, one-third of which would be selected by the president. The lower house would be reduced from 596 to 450, with 25% of the seats reserved for women. The president would also be allowed to appoint members of the judiciary. There is little doubt that the changes will be approved.

04/13/2019

Sisi supports Libyan strongman Hiftar in his attempt to take control of Libya.

03/31/2019

Government raises minimum wage by about 67%, from 1200 Egyptian pounds to 2000 and also pension payments by 15%. The government has devalued the pound, slashed subsidies, and started a value-added tax, and plans to further reduce energy subsidies in 2019.

01/31/2019

Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE meet “to align policy.”

01/14/2019

Parliament extends presidential decree of state of emergency for three more months, the seventh time it has been extended since 4/17.

12/13/2018

Continuing discussions initiated by the Saudis about a regional alliance of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

10/25/2018

Israeli newspaper reports that an Egypt-brokered agreement may defuse violence between Israel and Hamas. Israel agrees to allow some materials into Gaza and to extend fishing rights.

08/16/2018

Israeli news reports that agreement with Gaza would include a one-year ceasefire. Also, Qatar would join Egypt in paying salaries for Gazan workers and for electricity in the Gaza Strip.

07/04/2018

Court of Cassation overturns ruling that put 1500 people, many of the Muslim Brotherhood and including former president Mohammed Morsi, and sends the case back to the lower court for reconsideration.

06/14/2018

Sisi appoints Mostafa Madbouli prime minister, replacing Sherif Ismail.

06/05/2018

Following tradition after a presidential election, PM Ismail Sharif and his cabinet resign.

01/29/2018

At the last minute, a second candidate, Moussa Moustafa Moussa, enters presidential election. He is a supporter of Sisi. Opposition has called for a boycott.

01/24/2018

Khaled Ali withdraws from presidential election.

01/23/2018

Anan is detained and his campaign stopped. The army says that he does not have permission to run for office because of “crimes” committed while he was army chief of staff and “incitement against the armed forces.”

01/20/2018

General Sami Anan, former army chief of staff announces presidential candidacy. Khaled Ali, a human rights lawyer, and Essam Hegy, a space scientist, have also announced.

01/20/2018

Egypt parliament extends state of emergency for another three months.

01/19/2018

Pres Sisi announces presidential candidacy in election 3/26-28/18.

01/09/2018

Egypt parliament extends state of emergency for another three months.

01/07/2018

Shafik ends candidacy for president.

12/30/2017

Former president Morsi is given a three-year sentence for insulting the judiciary.

12/02/2017

Shafiq travels to Egypt, says he is still considering running for president.

11/29/2017

Former general and runner-up in the 2012 Egyptian presidential election says he is being prevented by the UAE from traveling to Egypt to run for president again. Ahmed Shafik is in Dubai where he has been living with from support for the UAE. The UAE says that he is not being restricted.

04/06/0202

US presses Egypt and Qatar to urge Hamas to an agreement on ceasefire/hostages.

04/25/0024

Israel and Egypt hold discussion about invasion of Rafah in Gazar, which could displace many Gazans to Egypt.