Cairo ~ A time of uncertainty ?

Posted: 09/02/2013

Over the last week, Egypt has witnessed large-scale violent unrest in Cairo and the northern cities of Port Said, Suez, and Ismailiyya. This appears to be the most widespread and intense unrest in Egypt since President Morsi took office in June 2012.

RPS Partnership believes that more civil disorder seems likely and it appears possible that the army may be signaling that it could intervene to quell the unrest.

On Wed 31st January, the Minister of Defense warned of ‘state collapse’ if the unrest continued, in a strong sign of the military’s growing concern with political instability. This statement is being interpreted as either warning that the army would deploy into the streets, as some local sources seem to think, or a prior justification that it may stage a coup to preserve the integrity for the state.

Egypt has a history of coups and military interference in politics since the founding of the modern republic in 1952, and an underlying risk of a coup in the country can not be ruled out at this stage.

The current unrest in the country has not reached the same scale or intensity as it did during the 2011 uprising, and there is now a heavy security force presence in the affected areas. However, if the unrest escalates, RPS Partnership expects that there will be more soldiers in the streets. The military has already deployed in the northern cities of Port Said, Ismailiyya and Suez to restore order and protect the Suez Canal.

A state of emergency remains in effect in Port Said, Suez and Ismailiyya. A curfew is also in place between 0100hrs and 0500hrs in these cities and RPS Partnership advises that travellers should abide by this or risk detention or arrest.

This week, for the second time, masked suspects tried to loot the Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel in Cairo during clashes between protesters and police. These incidents underscore the risk of incidental violence to commercial interests around Tahrir Square and Garden City.  RPS Partnership advises anyone travelling to Cairo to avoid staying in these areas.

If you require advice about travel to Egypt or more specifically Cairo, then please contact RPS Partnership on [email protected]

Photos of Cairo taken by RPS consultants - Overlooking the Nile and Tahrir Square

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