Egyptian authorities order releasing Al Jazeera journalist detained since 2020

CAIRO – 15 September 2022: The Egyptian authorities have ordered releasing Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed El-Nagdi, who was detained in the case no. 864 of 2020.

Nagdi had been detained since 2020 on charges including spreading false news.

The release coincides with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s official visit to Qatar, which started on Tuesday, during which he discussed bilateral relations with Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

President Sisi's visit to Doha comes as a “culmination of the intensive mutual discussions between the two brotherly countries during the recent period to strengthen the frameworks of joint bilateral cooperation at all levels,” the Presidency explained in a statement.

Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al Thani witnessed the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries.

Among the signed agreements between the two countries is a MoU between the Sovereign Fund of Egypt for Investments and Development and the Qatar Investment Authority.

Another MoU was signed between Egypt's Social Solidarity Ministry and the Qatari Ministry of Social Development and the Family in the sphere of social affairs.

Meanwhile, an MoU was inked between the two countries on cooperation related to the ports sphere.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency during the visit, Sisi said his visit to Qatar reflects the development witnessed in the two countries' relations over the past period and the sincere desire by their leaderships to deepen cooperation to serve their national interests.

The visit also mirrors the two countries' true desire to boost inter-Arab solidarity and activate joint Arab action to preserve regional security and stability at the current stage.

He stressed that economic and investment cooperation between Egypt and Qatar is one of the most promising areas of joint interaction, saying this topic was discussed in detail over the past year between senior Egyptian and Qatari officials in light of the variety of available investment opportunities in Egypt.

Sisi hoped that the ideas and initiatives that were floated lately would turn into joint investment projects in the natural gas and renewable energy domains as well as the green hydrogen and petrochemical industries and lead to a closer cooperation between Egypt's sovereign fund and its Qatari counterpart.