Less than eight months after agreeing a new $8bn loan deal with the IMF, Egyptian officials have begun questioning the program and calling for potential delays to reforms (MEES, 8 March). President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on 20 October said that Cairo would look to reevaluate its March agreement with the IMF due to “economic pressures,” with PM Mostafa Madbouly on 23 October also saying the government is currently reviewing the reform timeline set out by the fund.
Mr Madbouly blamed the current conflict in Gaza and the collapse in Suez Canal revenues for exerting further pressure on already strained finances (MEES, 11 October). (CONTINUED - 1086 WORDS)
