Egypt Roundup: Donkey decline threatens health, criminal sentence, exports
Egypt increases potato and onion exports to Russia
Egypt has significantly boosted its potato exports to Russia in the first quarter of 2025, sending 274,500 tonnes, a dramatic increase from 59,300 tonnes in 2024. Russia overall imported 432,200 tonnes of potatoes, nearly four times the previous year's volume. Additionally, Egypt exported 13,000 tonnes of onions to Russia, showing a notable increase from 7,600 tonnes in 2024. This export surge follows discussions led by Sergey Dankvert of Rosselkhoznadzor and Egyptian officials regarding mutual agricultural trade, amidst a backdrop of rising potato prices in Russia.
Decline of Egypt's donkey population raises health concerns
Egypt's donkey population has plummeted from 3 million in the 1990s to below 1 million, prompting public health concerns as reports of illegal slaughter for meat emerge. Hussein Abu Saddam of the Farmers’ Union highlighted the issues in a recent interview, citing modernisation and high maintenance costs as key factors driving the decline, along with a booming black market for donkey hides. Egypt Today reports that despite donkey meat's prohibition, it reportedly ends up in restaurants, sparking fears among consumers regarding food safety and animal welfare.
Egyptian cinema shines at Cannes Film Festival
At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Egyptian cinema garnered attention with the screening of 'Aisha Can't Fly Away,' by Morad Mostafa, featured in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section. The film offers a poignant examination of refugee life in East Cairo and showcases notable performances, Dawn reports. Alongside prominent Arab figures in attendance, Egypt also reinstated its Al-Mahrousa Pavilion to promote the national film industry and foster global networking opportunities.
Egypt sentences prominent dissident to six months in prison
Egypt has handed a new six-month prison sentence to opposition figure and former presidential hopeful Hisham Kassem for defaming a former labour minister, his lawyer told AFP. The sentence, issued in absentia as Kassem is currently abroad, comes months after he was released in February 2024 following a previous six-month jail term that barred him from running in the December 2023 presidential election. Kassem was reportedly not informed of the new charges, which his lawyer described as “very concerning.” Human rights groups have condemned the ruling, calling it a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent.
Egypt purchases 2.5 million tonnes of wheat from local farmers
As of this season, Egypt has procured 2.5 million metric tons of wheat from local farmers, indicating a slight increase compared to 2024. Despite a reduction in cultivated wheat areas, the government anticipates purchasing between 4 and 5 million tonnes to ensure national bread supply, backed by a 10% price rise for farmers. Egypt plans to import an additional 6 million tonnes to sustain its heavily subsidised bread programme for over 69 million citizens.
