The European Union’s decision to reward Egypt’s autocratic leader, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for preventing migrants from reaching Europe is drawing criticism from human rights organizations. The EU is set to upgrade its relations with Egypt to a “comprehensive and strategic partnership”, with a package of aid, grants, loans, and investments estimated at between four and eight billion Euros.
This move has raised concerns about the EU’s complicity in human rights abuses in Egypt. Since coming to power in a coup in 2013, Sisi’s government has been accused of mass killings, arbitrary detentions, and torture of critics and opponents. Independent media and civil society have been suppressed, and the judiciary is seen as a tool of government repression.
The EU’s support for Egypt’s border control, similar to deals with Tunisia and Mauritania, has been criticized for ignoring these abuses. Human Rights Watch has condemned the EU’s cash-for-migration-control approach, which undermines the EU’s values and emboldens authoritarian rulers.
Despite receiving support from the EU and the International Monetary Fund, Egypt continues to face economic challenges and human rights violations. The EU’s failure to push for reforms or address government abuses is seen as a missed opportunity to prevent future crises in Egypt.
The EU’s decision to support Egypt’s repressive regime has sparked outrage among human rights defenders, journalists, and activists who risk their lives to speak out against injustice. The EU’s partnership with Egypt is seen as a betrayal of its principles and a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes.
As the EU moves forward with its plans to strengthen ties with Egypt, concerns remain about the impact on ordinary Egyptians, businesspeople, migrants, and refugees. Without addressing human rights abuses and holding the Egyptian government accountable, the EU risks perpetuating oppression and impunity in the region.
In conclusion, the EU’s migration control obsession, which ignores human rights abuses, not only undermines its credibility but also entrenches oppression in Egypt and beyond. It is crucial for the EU to prioritize human rights and democratic values in its partnerships with countries like Egypt to ensure a more just and equitable future for all.