By John Ikani
A deal for the sale of 12 military transport planes to Egypt by the US Government has been approved by the US State Department.
Air defence radar systems and other related equipment are also being sold for another $300m.
The deals come despite ongoing unease in Washington over Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s tough treatment of political opponents, with rights groups estimating that Egypt holds about 60,000 political prisoners.
It would also be recalled that in September 2021, the US Government placed on hold $130 million in military aid that had been budgeted for Egypt.
Two lawmakers who have been critical of US arms sales to Egypt said on Tuesday that Egypt has not met the conditions required to remove the suspension on the frozen $130 million.
“Tens of thousands of political prisoners… remain in Egyptian prisons,” they said in a statement.
“The government of Egypt has continued to engage in widespread torture, suppression of dissent, and even persecution of American citizens and the families of critics living in the United States,” they added.
The two arms deals also gained approval nearly three weeks after US authorities arrested a New York man accused of spying on political opponents of Sisi.
