Egypt overview

In Egypt, the security situation in most tourist centers, including Luxor, Aswan and Red Sea resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh, continues to be calm, the US State Department says.

However, in November in Cairo, Alexandria and other cities, massive demonstrations took place against the transitional military government’s violent suppression of protests held in October. During the previous demonstrations, at least 41 protesters were killed and more than 2,000 were injured.

Many Egyptians remain concerned that the military might not relinquish power as soon as it had promised after the ouster of President Mubarak in February 2011. On Nov. 22, the head of the military council, Field Marshall Tantaw, promised to hand over power and moved up the presidential elections from 2013 to June 2012. A series of parliamentary elections began on Nov. 28 and will continue until March 2012. More political demonstrations are likely to occur.