Egypt in the News on 15 November 2020
Leading the conversation on Egypt in the international press this morning:
Seven peacekeepers with the US-led Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) died on Thursday after their helicopter crashed near Sharm El Sheikh, the organization said in a statement. Five Americans, a French and a Czech citizen were among the deceased while another American peacekeeper who was also on board the helicopter was badly injured. The crash is not being treated as an attack, with both the MFO and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry saying that initial evidence points to a mechanical malfunction being to blame. A full investigation into the cause of the crash is under way.
What is the MFO? The international force’s mission is to supervise the implementation of the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. The MFO was established in 1981 “as an alternative” to the envisioned UN force in Sinai. It is funded equally by Egypt, Israel, and the US, with 13 countries contributing troops to the organization.
The story is everywhere: Associated Press | Reuters | Bloomberg | The New York Times | Wall Street Journal | CNN | CBS and more.
The unveiling of a huge trove of archaeological findings at the Saqqara complex is also getting a lot of digital ink. More than 100 coffins and some 40 statues were unveiled by the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry at a news conference on Saturday. The artifacts date back to 664-332 BC and will be put on display in three museums in Egypt, including the Grand Egyptian Museum, Minister Khaled El Enany said. Associated Press | Reuters | Sky News | NBC | Sputnik | Daily Mail.
A viral video of a man who set himself on fire in Tahrir Square is getting coverage in the foreign press. Reuters | Euro News Arabic | Al Monitor | Arab Weekly.