Maghreb Edition

Egypt: Canadian national held in custody in Egypt on unknown charges

Posted On 24 February 2019

Number of times this article was read : 233

Feb 24, 2019 – A Canadian citizen has been arrested in Egypt, his family has told public news network CBC, asking that Ottawa secure his release. Yasser Ahmed Albaz, a 51-year-old engineer who was in Egypt on business, was stopped and questioned as he was about to board a plane back to Canada last Monday, according to CBC. His passport was confiscated and an agent told him he was the subject of an investigation, the family said, according to the report.

Albaz was able to text a friend to let him know he had been arrested by the Egyptian security services, but he has not been heard from since, according to the report. The Canadian Foreign Ministry is aware that a Canadian citizen has been arrested in Egypt, spokesman Richard Walker said in an email to AFP.

He said consular services have been provided and officials were in contact with the local authorities to obtain more information, adding that privacy laws prevented him saying more. A daughter of Albaz, Amal, told CBC she feared for her father’s safety and asked Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland to intervene. Originally from Egypt, the Albaz family has lived in Canada for two decades, according to the CBC.

By AFP

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Niger Moves Uranium From SOMAÏR Mine Despite Arbitration Ruling

Niger’s military authorities have authorized the removal and transport of uranium from the SOMAÏR mine at Arlit without the involvement of longtime operator Orano, prompting the French nuclear group to denounce the shipment as illegal and in breach of a September 2025 World Bank–linked arbitration ruling. While Niamey signals plans to sell the stock on the open market as an assertion of resource sovereignty, the move raises legal, safety, and security concerns as uranium travels by road through conflict‑affected Sahel corridors.

Benin Soldiers Mount Brief Coup Attempt

In the span of a few hours on December 7, a small group of soldiers in Benin, West Africa, moved from night‑time attacks on senior officers’ homes to a televized announcement claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution. Forces loyal to the government swiftly retook the national broadcaster and key positions in Cotonou, and authorities now say the coup attempt has been defeated even as some officers remain missing and questions about the mutineers’ support network persist.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.