Until late 2023, Egypt's focus had been on its tremendous economic problems and fending off scrutiny of its dire human rights record, as well as criticism for its failure to implement democratic structures and political reforms.

In particular, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has been widely seen as autocratic ruler who secured himself a third term in December's presidential election by cracking down on opposition candidates and silencing dissent.

International human rights organization have meanwhile put the number of political prisoners in Egyptian prisons at more than 70,000.

"Cairo has successfully leveraged the Mideast crises that was set off by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, to advance its financial interests and geopolitical significance," Timothy E. Kaldas, deputy director of the Washington-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, told DW.

Since the onset of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, US, Qatari and Egyptian diplomats have frequently met in Cairo to negotiate an elusive cease-fire in Gaza and a release of the remaining hostages.

"While Qatar seems to be playing a much more important role here, it still means that Egypt is at least perceived as an influential........

© Deutsche Welle