According to reports, Ahmed Shafiq, the former Prime Minister of Egypt, who claimed that the United Arab Emirates had "banned him from leaving," returned to his hometown on Saturday, December 2. Mr. Shafiq had gone to the UAE after losing to Mohamed Morsi in the 2012 Egyptian presidential elections. According to news agencies, Mr. Shafiq arrived in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on the evening of December 2. Hours earlier, Dina Adli, the lawyer for this Egyptian politician, stated that he had been "expelled from the United Arab Emirates." Last week, in a video sent to AFP, Shafiq expressed surprise that he was not allowed to leave the brotherly country of the UAE, saying, "I was very surprised that I was not allowed to leave the United Arab Emirates; the reasons for such an action are not clear to me." Ahmed Shafiq has expressed readiness to compete in the upcoming elections in Egypt against the current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. It is said that this former Air Force commander and Prime Minister during the final days of Hosni Mubarak's regime has a chance to have a close competition with Sisi. He had previously competed against Mohamed Morsi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and the ousted President of Egypt, in a race that ultimately resulted in a narrow victory for Morsi. After that, Egypt entered a critical period marked by street protests against Morsi and in support of him, military and security forces' intervention, clashes and tensions, and the deaths of hundreds of protesters. Shafiq went into voluntary exile in the UAE five years ago. The UAE news agency reported that Ahmed Shafiq left without providing any explanation regarding the reason or manner of his departure from that country. This news agency also stated that his family members are still in the UAE. However, Reuters reported, citing Shafiq's daughter, that Emirati officials went to their home and sent his father to Cairo. The daughter of the former Prime Minister of Egypt stated that her father was supposed to travel to France with other family members. The Egyptian government has not yet reacted to recent events. Egyptian judicial officials have stated that they have no information regarding his expulsion from the UAE. The UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, is considered one of the allies of the current President of Egypt. The UAE has not officially reacted to Shafiq's candidacy in the upcoming elections.
Former Egyptian Prime Minister Returns to Cairo After Being Expelled from the UAE
Ahmed Shafiq, former Prime Minister of Egypt, returned to Cairo after being expelled from the UAE, where he had been living in exile. He expressed surprise at being banned from leaving the UAE and is now preparing to run against current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in upcoming elections. This situation highlights the complex political dynamics in Egypt and the role of the UAE as a regional player.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Ahmed Shafiq returned to Cairo after being expelled from the UAE, where he had been living in exile. He expressed surprise at being banned from leaving and is now preparing to run against President el-Sisi in the upcoming elections.
- Shafiq had been living in the UAE since losing the 2012 presidential election.
- His expulsion from the UAE raises questions about the political dynamics between Egypt and the UAE.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Ahmed Shafiq served as Prime Minister during the final days of Hosni Mubarak's regime and has been a controversial figure in Egyptian politics since the 2011 revolution. His return from exile raises questions about the future of Egyptian democracy.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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