US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Wednesday urged Egypt to stop unwarranted harassment of US citizens in the North African country in the wake of the release of a US citizen held in prison for 16 months. “We thank Egypt for securing his release and his repatriation,” Pompeo told a news conference. Egypt and the US are allies but Washington repeatedly went ballistic over Egypt’s treatment of US citizens and their families. Pompeo has faced mounting pressure at home for Washington’s silent on Egypt’s human rights record and treatment of US citizens. “Continued mass violations of human rights increase the prospect of instability in Egypt and threaten US national security interests,” they wrote.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 09, 2020 15:22 UTC