Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt lawmakers demand accountability after deadly Telecom center fire
Intense criticism erupted in the Egyptian parliament on Tuesday as lawmakers demanded urgent explanations and accountability from the government following a massive fire at the Ramses Central Telecommunications Center in central Cairo, a critical hub for the nation's digital infrastructure.
Prominent parliamentarian Diaa El-Din Dawoud led the charge, sharply rebuking the government’s response to the crisis, which disrupted digital and telecommunication services nationwide.
During an emergency parliamentary session, Dawoud described the official handling of the incident as a "colossal failure," condemning what he called governmental "misinformation" and a notable absence of officials for over 14 hours during the immediate aftermath.
"The fire is not a minor incident," Dawoud asserted. "It has exposed the fragile state of Egypt’s communications infrastructure, despite billions spent on digital transformation projects. Where has the money gone, and how can a single fire bring the nation to a halt?"
He further accused the government of issuing "misleading" statements and leaving citizens in uncertainty, noting the prolonged delay before the public received credible updates.
Dawoud called for a comprehensive investigation, insisting that simply offering apologies was insufficient. He urged that responsible officials be held to account, including resignations where necessary. “The people deserve clear answers and genuine accountability, not empty statements,” he said, warning against ending the current parliamentary session without substantive action.
Other lawmakers echoed his sentiments. MP Amr Darwish requested an immediate fact-finding committee, highlighting the major disruptions caused by the fire: “The whole of Egypt was paralyzed by this event.” He pressed for the Communications Minister to appear before parliament and answer urgent questions.
Meanwhile, MP Ahmed Farghaly stepped up calls for a full parliamentary interrogation and went so far as to demand a withdrawal of confidence in the government, stating, “I refused to grant this government my confidence before, now I demand it step down.”
Egypt is still struggling to restore full services in the wake of the incident, as public and political demands for answers escalate. Parliamentary Speaker Dr. Hanafy El-Gebaly announced the urgent summoning of the Communications Minister to address lawmakers’ concerns.
Expressing sympathy for the families of the four victims, Dr. El-Gebaly emphasized the seriousness of the government’s admitted mistakes: “This is an unacceptable failure that must not pass without consequences.” All urgent statements regarding the fire have been referred to the Communications Committee for immediate review, with a special session scheduled for today.
As parliament moves to investigate, lawmakers stress the need for a full assessment of Egypt’s digital infrastructure to prevent similar crises in the future. “Citizens deserve transparency regarding how public funds are used, and assurance that avoidable disasters like this will not be repeated,” Dawoud concluded.