Egyptians stockpile food as 'Palacegate' protests rage on

Egyptians stockpile food as 'Palacegate' protests rage on
Egyptians are queuing outside shops and supermarkets to buy as many necessities as possible.
2 min read
27 September, 2019
Egyptians are stocking up in anticipation of food prices spiking. [Getty]
Egyptians are stockpiling food as instability continues to rock the country in the wake of the 'Palacegate' protests.

After a week of protests against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's corruption, Egypt's economy has already taken a hit with a stock exchange plunge and a rise in food prices, leading Egyptians to hoard food as they prepare for worse to come.

Egyptians across the country have been queuing up for vegetables, bread, eggs, meat, canned food and other necessities out of a fear of a national depletion of supplies.

Government employee Hassan Mahmoud told The New Arab's Arabic language service that he had bought a number of food products for his family in anticipation of food prices spiking.

He added that rising food prices are not a unique result of the protests, but the prices of goods have spiked over the last few months.

The 'Palacegate' protests broke out in Cairo, Suez, Damietta and other Egyptian cities on Friday and Saturday last week after videos alleging endemic corruption in the Sisi regime and military went viral earlier this month.

Mohamed Ali, the former military contractor behind the videos, alleges that Sisi and the military appropriated millions of dollars worth of public funds to build lavish villas and palaces, while at least a third of the Egyptian population languishes in poverty.

Sisi has admitted to building the palaces, claiming the construction was for the benefit of Egypt, and has said he will build more in the future.

According to the Attorney General's statement, some of the defendants "confessed" their "loyalty" to the Muslim Brotherhood.

State media has accused the outlawed group of inciting protests.

Other defendants allegedly said they were "incited" to take videos or photos of demonstrations by suspicious "unknown" figures.

Dutch citizen Pieter Bas appeared in a televised confession on Tuesday, admitting to flying a drone from the rooftop of his Cairo hotel to take pictures.

State-affiliated television channel MBC Masr broadcast the drone's footage, which appeared to be aerial videos of the capital not including any footage of the protests.

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