The UK embassy in Cairo has been temporarily closed following the removal of security barriers by Egyptian authorities. This action occurs amidst a diplomatic disagreement over the recent arrest of an activist. According to the UK Foreign Office, although the main embassy building in the Garden City area is shut for review, the embassy continues to operate.
The embassy’s closure coincides with rising calls within Egypt for a retaliatory measure concerning the UK’s approach to recent protests in London. Last week, an activist known for pro-Egyptian government sentiments was arrested but later released after confronting demonstrators outside the Egyptian embassy in the UK.
In relation to this incident, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reportedly reached out to Jonathan Powell, the UK’s National Security Adviser, seeking clarification about the arrest. Abdelatty has previously asserted that Egypt reserves the right to respond to countries that do not adequately protect their embassies as stipulated by the Vienna Convention.
The arrest has also led to a domestic debate within Egypt, with some figures advocating for the removal of security barriers from the UK’s embassy. The UK government is said to be actively engaging with Egyptian officials regarding the embassy’s security and staff safety.
For UK citizens in Egypt needing consular assistance, the Foreign Office has made relevant contact information available on its travel advice webpage. Although the guidance does not discourage travel to Cairo, it does caution against visiting specific areas in Egypt. Historically, substantial barriers have been erected around the UK and US embassies in Cairo for many years, although some critics claim these have negatively impacted local traffic. Notably, the UK embassy has temporarily closed before, in 2013 and 2014, due to various security concerns.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx27xr2jkp9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss