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Born in Egypt · Nationalities Grenadian, Egyptian — Business / politics / media

Naguib Sawiris

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Satirical tweet depicting Mickey and Minnie in Islamic dress: religious offence proceedings subsequently dismissed” and “Political funding and role in opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood before Morsi's downfall”.

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Profile No. 0586 · Updated on 12 October 2026

6Documented controversies

9Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2025

Public criticism of megaprojects and the military's economic role in Egypt

No legal proceedings

Sawiris called on Egypt to reassess its major infrastructure projects because of their foreign-currency costs, implicitly questioning an economic model in which the military plays a central role.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: Not applicable
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ReutersEgypt should take hard look at mega-projects, billionaire Sawiris saysMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2016-2017

Free Egyptians Party: internal power struggle, founder's expulsion and legal battle

Civil / administrative proceedings

A power struggle arose between Naguib Sawiris and the leadership of the Free Egyptians Party, which he had co-founded. Following disputes over the new statutes, the role of the board of directors and Sawiris's influence over the party, he was expelled in February 2017 and subsequently brought legal proceedings against party leader Essam Khalil.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Ahram OnlineLiberal Free Egyptians Party expel founder, billionaire Naguib SawirisMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Ahram OnlineNaguib Sawiris sues Free Egyptians leader for expelling himMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2008-2016

Koryolink in North Korea: suspicions and international sanctions compliance risks

No legal proceedings

Orascom Telecom built the Koryolink mobile network in North Korea. Investigations based on company documents raised questions about certain transactions, equipment and risks of circumventing sanctions.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Peterson Institute for International EconomicsOrascom sanctions bombshellsresearchHigh reliability
[2]
Finance UncoveredThe North Korean ConnectioninvestigativeHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2004-2007 (révélé en 2016)

Panama Papers: shareholding in Arab Call Group Ltd in the British Virgin Islands

No legal proceedings

The ICIJ's Offshore Leaks database, derived from the Panama Papers, identifies Naguib Onsy Sawiris as a shareholder in Arab Call Group Ltd, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, between 2004 and 2007. The disclosure fuelled debate about the use of offshore structures by wealthy individuals.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ICIJ Offshore Leaks DatabaseMR. NAGUIB ONSY SAWIRISDatabasePrimary source

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2011-2013

Political funding and role in opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood before Morsi's downfall

No legal proceedings

Sawiris founded and funded the Free Egyptians Party and actively supported opposition to Mohamed Morsi, also using his media and economic prominence in a highly polarised environment.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: Not applicable
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ReutersSpecial Report: How the Muslim Brotherhood lost EgyptMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2011-2012

Satirical tweet depicting Mickey and Minnie in Islamic dress: religious offence proceedings subsequently dismissed

Case dismissed / dropped

Sawiris published a cartoon depicting Mickey and Minnie in Islamic clothing, triggering a boycott, religious outrage and legal proceedings for insulting religion.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
ReutersEgypt's Sawiris faces trial for insulting religion after tweeting cartoonMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ReutersEgypt court throws out case against tycoon SawirisMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)

Mohamed Morsi1 documented reference
- Political funding and role in opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood before Morsi's downfall Source ↗

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.