Twenty-two organisations argue that both the Egyptian government and the Commission’s own reporting have failed to acknowledge critical violations, despite multiple findings by the Commission that Egypt has breached several articles of the Charter.
Critics say the body has not issued a resolution on Egypt since 2015, a decade-long silence they believe undermines its credibility.
Speaking to Channel Africa on Thursday, Amr Magdi, a Senior Researcher in the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch, said human rights groups have struggled to draw sustained attention to the crisis.
He noted that while the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council has adopted two resolutions on Egypt since 2014, and the African Commission has adopted four, follow-up has been weak.
“There must be more attention to the situation in Egypt, not just in terms of adopting new resolutions highlighting the serious and systematic abuses, but also to establish follow-up mechanisms,” he said.
Egypt underwent its most recent review before the Commission last month, covering the period from 2019 to 2024. Magdi said rights protections deteriorated drastically during those years. Yet, Egypt failed to implement several Commission decisions, a situation that should, under normal circumstances, trigger stronger measures or even referral to the African Union (AU) Executive Council.
He added that Egypt’s political weight within the AU and government pressure to weaken the Commission’s independence have contributed to institutional hesitancy.
Magdi described Egypt’s civic space as “near completely destroyed,” citing widespread imprisonment of journalists, harsh repression of independent organisations, and severe constraints on political and professional groups. He said at least 24 journalists are currently behind bars, and Egypt remains among the top countries issuing death sentences and carrying out executions.
Despite the hostile environment, Magdi said the resilience of Egyptian human rights defenders, many operating under threat or in exile, has ensured that information continues to reach regional and international bodies.
He urged the African Commission to rely on independent reporting, interrogate government narratives, and take concrete steps to address the worsening situation.
–ChannelAfrica–
