Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The British Embassy in Cairo announced on Sunday, August 31, the closure of its main building in Garden City after Egyptian authorities removed longstanding external security barriers surrounding the premises.
In an official statement posted on its account on the platform X (formerly Twitter), the embassy said:
“Egyptian authorities removed the security barriers outside the British Embassy in Cairo on Sunday, 31 August. The main building will be closed until the implications of these changes are fully assessed.”
The statement added that emergency consular assistance remains available and encouraged individuals to consult the latest travel advice and contact the embassy by phone for any urgent needs.
The move comes amid increasing diplomatic friction between Egypt and the UK, particularly over the issue of reciprocal treatment of diplomatic missions.
In response to the embassy’s closure, Egyptian media personality Ahmed Moussa weighed in, applauding the removal of the barriers.
In a post on X, he wrote:
“As demanded by the great Egyptian people last week, the barriers around the British Embassy in Garden City which had closed streets to the public for years were removed in the early hours of today. This is a correction of a long-standing mistake. The embassy had enjoyed special treatment with excessive barricades that disrupted the movement of citizens.”
Moussa emphasized the need for reciprocal treatment in international relations, stating:
“Reciprocity is a principle that must be applied to all, without exception. Egypt is a strong and sovereign country that does not bow to pressure or blackmail. Those who respect us will be respected in return.”
In an earlier post, Moussa criticized the UK’s reaction, suggesting the embassy was acting out of spite:
“The British Embassy in Cairo shut its main gate today and is asking people to contact it by phone to book appointments. It seems the folks in London are upset about the removal of the barriers and are sulking. You protect terrorists outside our embassy in London while they threaten its security, and when we take away your street privileges here, you get offended? We are simply upholding the rights of citizens and traffic movement.”
The incident comes in the wake of tensions sparked by attacks on Egypt’s embassy in London. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty had previously warned that Egypt reserves the right to respond with “reciprocal measures” toward countries that fail to protect its diplomatic missions a reference to incidents in the UK where Egyptian facilities were allegedly left vulnerable.
Meanwhile, last week British authorities detained Egyptian activist Ahmed Abdelkader, known as “Mido,” after he reportedly confronted individuals attempting to storm the Egyptian embassy in London. He was later released. Foreign Minister Abdel Aaty contacted British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, urging clarity on the reasons behind Abdelkader’s arrest and called for swift action to release him. Egypt’s embassy in London was also instructed to provide consular support and follow up with UK authorities.
In response to the unfolding situation, the UK has yet to issue a formal diplomatic statement, but the embassy’s closure signals an increasingly strained relationship between the two governments with broader implications for diplomatic norms and the treatment of foreign missions.
