Egypt
Since the 2011 uprising, Egypt experienced an increasing level of political instability, an escalation of violence and the widespread proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), mostly originating from the looting of police stations during the uprising.[1] Reports also outlined that large amounts of weapons were regularly smuggled to and through Egypt from neighbouring Libya post-2011.[2] At the same time, the country progressively entered what is considered a non-international armed conflict against the non-state armed group “Wilayat Sinai,” which pledged loyalty to the Islamic State.[3]
In terms of Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM), the national regulation on weapons possession is considered restrictive and the country is not party to the principal international treaties and protocols on weapons and ammunition.[4]
[1] Mohamed Elmeshad, “Smuggled, stolen and homemade, guns flood Egypt’s streets”, Egypt Independent, 27.06.11, https://www.egyptindependent.com/smuggled-stolen-and-homemade-guns-flood-egypts-streets/.
[2] UN Security Council, « Rapport final du Groupe d’experts créé par la résolution 1973 (2011) concernant la Libye », S/2013/99, https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N13/254/44/PDF/N1325444.pdf?OpenElement.
[3] Annabel Bassil, “Non-International Armed Conflict to Continue in Sinai?” The War Report, Geneva Academy, November 2019, https://www.geneva-academy.ch/joomlatools-files/docman-files/Non-International%20Armed%20Conflict%20To%20Continue%20In%20Sinai%20.pdf.
[4] Philip Alpers and Marcus Wilson, “Egypt — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law”, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney. GunPolicy.org, 18.08.22, https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/egypt.
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Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the beginning of data collection in 1979 by the Small Arms Survey, three accidental explosions were reported in Egypt (Table 1).
Table. 1 Accidental explosions in Egypt (1979-2021)
Year | Location | Owner/manager | Deaths | Injuries |
2013 | Asyut | State (military) | 2 | 14 |
2009 | Ismailia | State (military) | 0 | - |
1987 | Alexandria | State (military) | 6 | 1000 |
Source: UEMS Database (December 2021); Small Arms Survey. ‘Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS)’. https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.
Cases of diversion
Several cases of diversion have been reported in Egypt (Table 2).
Table 2: Cases of diversion of arms, ammunition, and explosives in Egypt
Year | Location | Description |
2015 | El Qantara | The Ismailia’s governorate prosecution ordered the detention of two policemen who allegedly stole three mechanical rifles, a 9mm machine gun, a birdshot rifle and 41 bullets from police evidence.[1] |
2011 | Cairo | The North Cairo Criminal Court accused two people of stealing military firearms (number and characteristics unspecified) from the military during the Maspero Massacre.[2] |
[1] N.d., “Two Egyptian policemen detained for stealing weapons, cars from evidence”, Ahram Online, 14.06.15, https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/132783/Egypt/Two-Egyptian-policemen-detained-for-stealing-weapo.aspx.
[2] Hend Kortam, “Two Copts convicted of stealing weapons during Maspero Massacre”, Daily News Egypt, https://dailynewsegypt.com/2013/02/04/two-copts-convicted-of-stealing-weapons-during-maspero-massacre/.
Disposal
Destruction, use, or export of ammunition as an indicator of a state’s ability to identify and decrease aging, unsafe, or surplus ammunition.
Insufficient information on the disposal of ammunition in Egypt.
Needs
Further requirements for an effective through-life management of ammunition in the country.
No needs were reported for Egypt.
Source: PoA Report 2022, Egypt. Please note that PoA reports focus on SALW and not specifically on ammunition.
