Kerry to meet Sisi amid political oppression in Egypt
US Secretary of State John Kerry is slated to travel to Cairo, Egypt to meet with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi amid mass protests against political oppression in the country, an official says.
Last week, US government auditors slammed Kerry's department for authorizing arms sales to Egypt without ensuring that Cairo would not use them in rights abuses.
Kerry will arrive in Cairo on Wednesday to speak with Sisi on "a range of bilateral and regional issues," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Monday.
His visit comes as the Egyptian government has many activists and protesters in custody for opposing Sisi’s decision to hand over the control of two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.
Egypt has placed restrictions on civil rights groups while criticism is growing of the country’s human rights record.
Egyptian police, for instance, have come under attack for abusive practices and culture of torture as well as denial of basic rights to detainees.
Recently, the government has sentenced more than 200 Egyptians for partaking in protests held on April 15 and 25 against Cairo’s decision to hand over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia under a deal negotiated in near total secrecy.
Sisi’s government is reportedly receiving $20 billion in aid from Saudi Arabia in return for the handover of sovereignty.
Last month, Kerry met Sisi in another visit to Cairo, where he said Washington viewed Egypt as "critical" to regional peace and security.
"We also (held) talks about ways in which we can hopefully resolve some of the differences and questions that have arisen about the internal politics and choices for the people of Egypt," Kerry said, alluding to the recent spat over human rights.
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