Egypt expresses 'annoyance' with US embassy over threat warning

Egypt’s foreign ministry sharply criticised the US Embassy in Cairo for advising citizens to avoid large gatherings in the capital until Sunday, calling the move “unjustifiable”.

The US Embassy’s message warned against being in public spaces such as concert halls, movie theatres, museums, shopping malls, and sports venues citing “potential security concerns” but did not specify what they were.

“The foreign ministry spokesman has conveyed his annoyance at the warning released by the United States embassy in Cairo to Americans,” the ministry said in a statement. “(This) raises questions over the reasons this statement was released in such a way.”

The ministry said it contacted the embassy over the warning and that it was told there were no specific reasons or threats behind the move. The ministry quoted the embassy as telling it that the warning was a routine measure taken every time there is a long weekend and thus more crowding in public areas.

Thursday was a public holiday in Egypt in celebration of Armed Forces Day. The Egyptian weekend is Friday and Saturday.

The foreign ministry said it expressed dismay to the embassy because such “unjustifiable warnings” could have negative effects especially on the economy.

Egypt is battling an violent insurgency largely concentrated in the Sinai Peninsula that which gained pace after the military coup of 2013, lead by the then General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

The insurgency, mounted by groups including the Islamic State’s Egyptian branch Sinai Province, has killed hundreds of soldiers and police and begun to attack Western targets within the country. There have been occasional attacks in Cairo and other cities.

The attacks have dented the recovery of tourism after a 2011 uprising drove away tourists, a major source of hard currency. Import-dependent Egypt is facing a dollar shortage that has stifled business activity and hit confidence in the economy.