Accidents are general fates; however, is the same accident’s consistent repetition counted as fate or neglect? 26th March 2021, another train accident in Egypt about 227 miles south of Cairo. A train heading between Luxor and Alexandria and another between Cairo and Aswan finds its fate leading to many dead and wounded.

The accident was shared as a live video on social media by Raheel Abu-Ameer, aged 22, who lost his friend and cousin in the accident. The video attracted more than a million views on social media within hours after its constant sharing. Not long after, the railway authorities said, “the emergency brakes were activated on the train in front by “unknown individuals”, causing the train behind to crash into it”. Followed by the Egyptian authorities convicting Abu-Ameer to many criticism/accusations like terrorism and being part of the Mulsim Brotherhood Group, leading to his arrest. These accusations urged Abu-Ameer to film another video declining all the charges against him; “I am simpler than you can imagine. I have no links with any Muslim groups or terrorism. When I did this live, my purpose was not fame or trend, but in fact, it was to reach out for help.”

Egypt has witnessed numerous accidents on its railways due to poor maintenance and lack of investment. A throwback to 2002, one of the most dangerous train accidents after a fire erupted from the train led to more than 300 people losing their lives. Official figures referenced by ‘The Guardian’ said: “at least 1793 train accidents occurred in 2017”. This is 35% more than the number of accidents that took place in 2016. In 2018, after two train accidents leading to the death of six people on one and 12, including a child on another, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said: “the government lacked about 250bn Egyptian pounds to overhaul the run-down rail system.” Today, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has announced, “the government would continue to upgrade railway projects to prevent similar deadly accidents but improving it will take time. Until then, accidents like this can happen.”
Following this announcement, the prime minister has stated that the government will pay 100,000 Egyptian pounds to each family who lost a loved one and between 20,000 to 40,000 Egyptian pounds to those injured.

Egypt’s railway system is one of the oldest in Africa and the Middle East. A several and consistent accidents occur on the Egyptian railways over the years. The government, the president and the nation are all aware of its poor maintenance, yet after each accident, a new excuse is made, innocent people accused, and the loss of many is priced. Yehia Ghanem, a Middle East Analyst, said, “There is a serious problem when it comes to fundamental services to the Egyptian people, including the railways. These kinds of accidents sometimes happen on a weekly basis. The responsibility falls on the system, on the regime, on the president himself.”