Egypt

Egypt denies permission to 8 US groups seeking to operate inside African country

Egypt has denied permission to eight US-based nonprofit groups to open offices and operate in the North African country.

An official of Egypt’s Insurance and Social Affairs Ministry said the ministry rejected the applications because the groups’ activities “breach the country’s sovereignty,” Egyptian state news agency MENA reported on Monday.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Carter Center for Human Rights, the Coptic Orphans, Seeds of Peace, and various other groups had been denied permission to work in Egypt.

He also said that if any of the groups try to operate without permits, they will be punished in accordance with Egyptian law.

Last month, anger against the United States rose in Egypt after foreign non-governmental organization (NGO) workers left the country before standing for their trials.

A total of 43 foreign and Egyptian activists, including the son of the US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, were accused of receiving illegal funds and running unlicensed NGOs in Egypt.

A group of 15 NGO workers, including Americans, departed Cairo in a US government plane on March 1. The departure came despite the travel ban imposed on the accused.

Earlier, US authorities had threatened to cut a USD 1.5-billion annual aid package to Egypt if the issue was not resolved.

Many Egyptians suspect that the US is instigating unrest in the country, by the funding of certain civil society groups in Egypt.

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