EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT SISI TO RUN FOR 3RD TERM IN OFFICE

Mon 02 October 2023:

Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, on Monday, announced that he will run for a third term in office, Anadolu Agency reports.

Sisi, whose current six-year term ends in 2024, was widely expected to run again in the presidential polls, slated for December.

In a televised speech, Sisi said that he will seek a new presidential term.

The announcement came as thousands of Egyptians gathered in several squares in Egypt to show support for Sisi’s candidacy for a third term in office.

Egypt will hold presidential elections on 10-12 December.

Candidates seeking to run in the elections can file for candidacy on 5-14 October, according to the country’s election authority.

Seven political figures have announced plans to run, including Ahmed Tantawi, a former parliamentarian, who is seen as a strong opposition candidate, if he officially enters the race.

Candidates seeking to run, secure endorsements from 20 or 25,000 registered voters across at least 15 provinces, with a minimum of 1,000 endorsements from each governorate.

Human rights

Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused Egypt of committing widespread human rights violations under Al-Sisi’s regime, including torture and forced disappearances. Al-Sisi, however, denies that there are any political prisoners in Egypt. Stability and security, he insists, are of paramount importance and the authorities are promoting rights by trying to meet basic needs for jobs and housing.

Opposition groups and human rights organisations, though, put the number of political detainees in Egypt as around 60,000 people. Amnesty International put the figure at 114,000 in January 2021.