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Egypt bars Qatari nationals from obtaining visa on arrival

Egypt bars Qatari nationals from obtaining visa on arrival

Egypt

Egypt has barred nationals of Qatar from obtaining visa on arrival into the country including diplomats from the Gulf state.

This measure comes weeks after Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fell out with the Gulf country after it accused it of supporting Islamist militants and Iran. Qatar vehemently denies the claims.

According to the Egyptian news agency MENA, the new order does not affect wives, husbands and children of Egyptian nationals, as well as Qatari nationals who are studying at Egyptian public universities.

The listed people in the exempt group will be given a three-month tourist visa, local media Ahram Online explains.

Qataris seeking Egyptian visa from Doha will have to go to the Greek embassy which has been delegated to represent Egypt diplomatically.

On June 22, Qatar also announced a list of 37 countries that can obtain visa on arrival, and Egypt is not in the list.

Both countries enjoyed visa on arrival privileges until the start of the diplomatic row on June 5.

Some African countries took sides in the diplomatic row with Chad recalling its ambassador from Qatar “for consultations” after Senegal recalled its envoy citing its “active solidarity” with Saudi Arabia.

Mauritania, a member of the Arab League, severed ties with Qatar following the lead of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt – while Gabon condemned Doha.

However, Guinean President Alpha Conde offered to mediate in the diplomatic crisis in his capacity as chairperson of the African Union to find a swift and peaceful solution.

Somalia also expressed concern and advised that it should be settled with dialogue after it expressed neutrality. This resulted in a recall of the United Arab Emirates ambassador in the capital Mogadishu.

The government of Seychelles also called on all the parties involved to engage in meaningful dialogue in order to resolve and deescalate the current situation.

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