This Video Does Not Show Recent Protests in Egypt
The Claim
a recent video shows widespread demonstrations in Egypt demanding the resignation of President Sisi and an end to the current regime.
News posted on
Emerging story
Recently, social media users have been circulating a video showcasing widespread demonstrations in Egypt demanding the resignation of President Sisi and an end to the current regime.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
Misbar's team found that the video is not recent as claimed and shows a demonstration in Cairo in September 2019.
As reported by DW at the time, hundreds of demonstrators assembled in Cairo's Tahrir Square, calling for the removal of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi. Security forces swiftly broke up the protest. An unnamed security source informed the France-Presse news agency that at least 74 individuals were arrested during the clashes. International human rights organizations called on the Egyptian authorities to safeguard the right to peaceful protest and to release all those who were detained without delay.
The protests were sparked by Mohamed Ali, an Egyptian contractor and actor residing in Spain, who called for the removal of el-Sissi in a series of widely shared online videos. In these videos, Ali accused el-Sissi and the military of corrupt practices.
In response, el-Sissi refuted the accusations, labeling them as "lies and slander," and asserted that he was "honest and faithful" to the Egyptian people and the military.
It is important to note that we did not identify any recent credible news reports indicating that anti-government protests have occurred in Egypt.
Egypt's Economic Crisis: Inflation, Debt, and IMF Support
The scenes circulated amid an economic crisis that Egypt is experiencing, where the country is facing double-digit inflation and shortages of foreign currency, driven by challenges such as declining revenues from the Suez Canal, the war in Ukraine, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Extensive borrowing under President Sisi has led to significant foreign debt, causing international creditors to hesitate in financing Egypt’s debt. As a result, the Egyptian government has been forced to turn to domestic borrowing to cover its increasing deficit, even as rising interest rates contribute to larger deficits. This situation, along with an expansion of the money supply, has resulted in currency depreciation and higher inflation.
In an effort to control the deficit, the government has raised prices on subsidized goods and services, but inflation has undermined many of these gains. Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that it reached a preliminary agreement with Egypt to provide around $1.2 billion to support the troubled economy. This agreement, which requires approval from the IMF's Executive Board, follows Egypt's commitment to implementing steps to enhance macroeconomic stability.
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