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Ex-Egypt PM Ahmed Shafiq 'blocked from leaving UAE' NEWS / ABDEL FATTAH EL-SISI Egypt: Is the media's 'Sisi-mania' waning? READ MORE What is it like to live under President Sisi? OPINION What happened to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood? by Khalil al- Anani Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Middle East United Arab Emirates Politic A former Egyptian prime minister says he is not being allowed to leave the United Arab Emirates, the country where he has resided since 2012 after losing the Egyptian elections to Mohamed Morsi. The reason for his travel ban is unknown, Ahmed Shafiq said in an exclusive video statement to Al Jazeera on Wednesday. "I was surprised to know that I am prevented from leaving the UAE for reasons that I don’t understand and I am not willing to understand," he said. Earlier in the day, Shafiq had announced that he intended to run in the 2018 presidential elections against current President Abdel Fateh el-Sisi. Shafiq, who also participated in the 2012 Egyptian elections, said he wanted to head back to Egypt in the coming days. "I have announced my in
tention to run the upcoming presidential elections and I was planning to start a tour among the Egyptian communities living abroad before going back to Egypt in the next few days," he said. In the video message, Shafiq thanked the UAE for hosting him, but was also critical of the travel ban. "I have often stated my appreciation for the UAE for hosting me," he said. "However, I reject any intervention in Egypt's affairs by preventing me from participating in a constitutional right and a holy mission to serve my country. I call on the UAE leaders to order the lifting of any restrictions on my ability to travel." After losing the closely contested 2012 election to Mohamed Morsi , Shafiq fled to the UAE. He was placed on trial in absentia in Egypt and found guilty of corruption charges. He was later acquitted, clearing his path for a potential return to Egypt. Samer Shehata, an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma, USA, says it is unknown if Sisi is behind Shafiq's travel ban.

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