Egypt announced in mid-October the release of a new batch of pre-trial detainees as the government prepares to hold a national dialogue with opposition forces called for by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in April.

More and more Egyptians online are calling for anti-government protests on 11 November to coincide with COP27 as human rights abuses in the country continue.

Nine years ago, in the early hours of 14 August 2013, Egyptian security forces descended upon Rabaa Square in Cairo, mounting a vicious assault against pro-democracy activists holding a sit-in to protest against the military coup that had unfolded six weeks earlier.

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi swore in 13 new ministers on Sunday after parliament approved its first major cabinet reshuffle since 2019 a day earlier.

The Rabaa massacre [in August 2013] represented a pivotal event for the contending players and a turning point for Egypt’s post-coup politics.

“In truth, we had intensive discussions,” Diaa Rashwan told around 200 journalists assembled on Tuesday evening after another five-hour closed-door coordinating session for the National Dialogue, the state initiative being heralded as a forum for political discussion and inclusivity.

Members of the Egyptian Civil Democratic Movement, the largest opposition group in the country, are experiencing major internal differences over plans to participate in the national dialogue initiative proposed by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi about three months ago, Arabi21 news site reported.

“Anyone who practices, participates in, incites or threatens violence, will be excluded,” Diaa Rashwan told journalists assembled at a Tuesday evening presser that ended the first public coordinating session of the dialogue.

The general coordinator of an Egyptian “national dialogue” initiative has ruled out any participation by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood in the process.

The formation of a 19-member board of trustees that will determine the shape of the upcoming national dialogue was announced on Sunday in a statement by the sessions’ managing body.