AP reports that Egyptian forces fired tear gas at taxi drivers protesting Uber in Cairo on Tuesday.
According to witnesses, the taxi drivers left their cars in the street and blocked a major road in the capital city. A massive traffic backup occurred, and police fired a tear gas cansiter to disperse the protest.
Uber, a popular ride-sharing app with set fees, has faced major pushback from Egyptian taxi drivers. Protests against Uber have increased in recent weeks, and some Uber drivers have stopped due to fears of being attacked by taxi drivers.
According to AP, some Egyptian papers have posted unconfirmed reports that car-hailing applications violate Egyptian law. While protests continue, the siuation has not been brought before Egyptian court.
Uber operates in over a dozen cities in the MENA region. The company announced in November a $250M expansion plan for the Middle East.
