ADDIS ABABA, July 23, 2013
Muna Omer, Special Envoy of the interim Egyptian President, has said Egypt “regretted” the African Union’s decision to suspend the troubled North African nation and hoped the decision would be reversed in “the next few weeks”.
Ms. Omer made her remarks on a visit to Addis Ababa to brief the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on events following the military’s removal of elected President Mohamed Morsy and the installation of an interim government in his place.
On July 5, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) suspended Egypt “until the restoration of constitutional order”, noting that “the overthrow of the democratically elected President… falls under the definition of an unconstitutional change of Government”.
“The decision of the AUPSC … was based on a kind of misunderstanding of the real situation in Egypt,” Ms. Omer said. “The revolution that took place in Egypt was a popular uprising, not an unconstitutional change.”
The AUPSC has appointed a high-level panel, comprising former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare, former President of Botswana Festus Gontebanye Mogae, and former Prime Minister of Djibouti Dileita Mohamed Dileita, to meet a broad spectrum of Egyptian politicians, the ruling authorities and “other Egyptian stakeholders”. The panel’s mandate, as described in a July 8 press release, is to “establish a constructive political dialogue aimed at national reconciliation, as well as to contribute their efforts” toward a democratic transition.
The Egyptian authorities appear to prefer a more limited mandate for the panel. “We want to make sure that the mandate given to this panel is restricted to just gathering information about the situation and then coming back to present this information to the panel,” Ms. Omer said.
Ms. Dlamini-Zuma said the AUPSC would decide on Egypt’s readmission after the report of the high-level panel. “We are very keen that Egypt speedily come back to the family of the AU as an active member,” she said, “The panel will give the information they have gathered and we will take it from there.”
Ms. Omer wished the AU had sent the panel to Cairo to ascertain the situation on the ground before deciding to suspend Egypt.
Reports from Cairo indicate that the Egyptian military has asked the interim government to hold elections in two months. Mr. Morsy’s Muslim Brotherhood has refused to participate in the interim government, insisting that the President be restored to office.
CAIRO, July 23, 2013
Morsy’s family lashes out at military
The family of Egypt’s ousted President lashed out at the military on Monday, accusing the generals of kidnapping Mohamed Morsy, who has been detained incommunicado in an unknown location for nearly three weeks.
The statement by the family at a press conference underlined the unknown fate of Egypt’s first freely elected President. Mr. Morsy has not been seen and has had no known contact with lawyers, family or supporters since the military ousted him on July 3 after mass protests nationwide demanding his removal.
During that time, the Islamist leader has become a tool for both sides. The new military-backed government has used Morsi to put pressure on his Muslim Brotherhood, launching criminal investigations without actually bringing charges against him. Government officials have said only that he is safe, is well cared for and is being held for his own protection.
The Brotherhood, in turn, has sought to drum up sympathy by saying Mr. Morsy’s detention shows the military’s coup is taking the country into dictatorship, as it tries to expand street protests demanding he be reinstated as president.
European Union Foreign Ministers on Monday called for the release of Morsy and “all political detainees”, saying it was among their key priorities for Egypt’s new leadership. The United States has also urged Mr. Morsy’s release.
At Monday’s press conference, Mr. Morsy’s daughter Shaimaa read out a statement by the family, saying, “We hold the leaders of the bloody military coup fully responsible for the safety and security of the President.” — AP
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