A Christian cleric on Thursday criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for kowtowing to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and downplaying human rights concerns as she headed to north Africa to expand trade and investment ties. Merkel will hold talks with Sisi in Egypt before visiting Tunisia as part of a broader push to boost German investment in Africa, slow the flow of migrants into Europe and increase intelligence-sharing to combat Islamic terrorism. Meanwhile, Germany has made strengthening economic development in Africa a priority of its presidency of the G20 group of industrialized countries this year. Merkel, who is campaigning to win a fourth term in office in national elections in September, will however need to balance public concerns about alleged human rights abuses in Egypt and across the region. Amnesty International urged Merkel to press Sisi to revoke restrictions on human rights activists.

Source: Egypt Independent March 02, 2017 14:03 UTC