Egypt's Transport Minister Faces Resignation Calls After Deadly Train Crash Kills Seven

Demands for Egypt's Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir to step down intensified on Monday, with political parties within the pro-government coalition and a prominent state television host joining calls for him to assume responsibility for a fatal train collision south of Cairo. The accident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, involved a train traveling from Giza to Fayoum colliding with the rear of a stationary train bound for Aswan near El Ayyat. Seven individuals, including the train driver, lost their lives, and 114 others were injured as multiple carriages derailed, according to the Health Ministry. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has ordered an immediate investigation to identify and hold accountable any negligent parties, while prosecutors have established a technical committee to determine the crash's cause. The National Railway Authority reported that normal train traffic resumed on the affected line by Monday morning. This tragedy has cast a somber shadow over a nation frequently affected by similar incidents. Reports indicated that three of the deceased were members of the same family. Condolences have been extended by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, and the Arab League. The incident has sparked widespread criticism from notable legislators and across social media, with many Egyptians seeking accountability, particularly given the recurring nature of such accidents. Some of the most forceful criticisms originated from within the government's own political sphere. The Al Adl Party, which secured seats on the pro-government National List, submitted three urgent parliamentary motions requesting the Minister's appearance. Hussein Haridy, a Member of Parliament representing Al Adl, amplified these calls in a Sunday evening interview with talk show host Amr Adib, stating, "I hope he resigns and takes political responsibility. People's blood isn't cheap." Basel Adel, a senator and leader of the Al Waie Party, declared it was time "for the transport minister to resign and leave." These statements followed similar demands from the opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party, whose MP Freddy El Bayady called for Mr. El Wazir's dismissal and an independent inquiry, while his colleague Reham Abdel Nabi filed a formal interpellation. Journalist Adib, known for his close ties to the state, expressed his views bluntly on his program, questioning, "How many have to die for the Minister to go?" a sentiment widely shared online. However, the largest parliamentary parties adopted a more reserved stance. Homat El Watan advocated for accountability "in light of the President's directives" without directly naming the Minister, and the National Front pledged 100,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $1,850) to each bereaved family. Mr. El Wazir visited the crash site but had not made a public statement by Sunday night. The crash has also reignited a long-standing debate regarding Egypt's substantial borrowing for its ambitious transport development program. Over the past decade, major projects have included monorail lines, a nationwide high-speed rail network, an electric light rail to the New Administrative Capital, and Cairo metro extensions. In June, several MPs voiced objections to a $3.9 billion loan for the high-speed railway, with Ahmed Farghali, an independent MP, noting that the transport ministry accounted for 52% of state borrowing. Despite these concerns, parliament approved the funding later that month. On Sunday, Irene Said, head of the Reform and Development Party's parliamentary bloc, questioned the allocation of this year's loans towards signaling and safety. Meanwhile, Ms. Abdel Nabi's interpellation request highlighted railway investment since 2014 at approximately 300 billion Egyptian pounds ($5.54 billion). Mr. El Wazir responded that his ministry's loans, totaling around $14 billion, represented a small fraction of the national debt. Mr. El Wazir, a former head of the army's Engineering Authority, was appointed in 2019 following the resignation of his predecessor, Hisham Arafat, after a deadly fire at Cairo's Ramses station. Currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, he has faced similar pressures before. After a collision in Sohag in March 2021, which resulted in at least 20 deaths and 199 injuries, he stated he was "not used to escaping" crises. Following a road accident in Menoufia last year that claimed the lives of 19 young farm workers, he was more resolute, stating, "I won't resign. I'm in it until I die." Sunday's collision occurred shortly after a derailment near Aswan and just over a year after a derailment in Matrouh that killed three people and injured over 100.