Alongside Sisi, Macron says France will sell arms to Egypt irrespective of rights

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in Biarritz, France August 25, 2019. Francois Mori/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he would not condition the sale of weapons to Egypt on human rights because he did not want to weaken Cairo's ability to counter terrorism in the region, a comment likely to draw the ire of critics.

Both states - which share concerns about instability across the Sahel, threats from jihadist groups in Egypt and the political vacuum in Libya - have cultivated closer economic and military ties during President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's rise to power.