Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vows to step down as Egypt's president in 2030
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday that he would not seek to remain in office when his current term expires in 2030, describing the matter as “completely settled”. Sisi, 71, a former army general who became president in 2014, made the remarks at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital, one of his flagship megaprojects. Speaking to graduates and state officials in the sprawling new city east of Cairo, Sisi said the Egyptian constitution “would not be touched”. “The period leading up to 2030 will be the end of my term as president of the state, if I am still alive. This is completely settled and there will be no discussion about it,” he said. The Egyptian constitution, approved in 2014 following the 2013 military ouster of late president Mohamed Morsi, originally limited presidents to two four-year terms. Constitutional amendments approved in a 2019 referendum extended presidential terms from four to six years and included transitional provisions that allowed Sisi to run for an additional term. Under those amendments, Sisi was re-elected in 2023 for a six-year term that is due to expire in 2030. Critics and opposition figures have speculated about the possibility of further constitutional changes that could allow him to remain in office beyond 2030. Before running for president, Sisi denied having political ambitions, but he resigned from his position as defence minister in 2014 and entered the race he went on to win. On Saturday, he said the run-up to 2030 would be used to groom a new generation of leaders, with the Military Academy training hundreds of prospective officials, ministers and presidential candidates in statecraft and leadership. During his 12 years in power, Sisi has overseen an ambitious state-led development programme centred on megaprojects which critics say have relied heavily on borrowing and contributed to Egypt’s mounting debt burden and economic pressures. Sisi’s presidency has also faced sustained criticism from international human rights organisations over restrictions on political opposition, civil society and freedom of expression, allegations the government rejects, saying its policies are necessary to preserve stability and security.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has declared that he will step down when his existing mandate finishes in 2030, insisting that the national constitution will not be amended to extend his stay in power.
Speaking to graduates and dignitaries at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital, the 71-year-old leader characterized the issue as entirely resolved and not open to further debate. He stated that, provided he remains alive, the years ahead leading up to 2030 will mark the conclusion of his tenure as the nation's head of state.
The remarks address ongoing speculation from opposition figures and analysts who had questioned whether the government might initiate fresh constitutional revisions allowing him to prolong his presidency. Sisi originally came to power following the 2013 military removal of former president Mohamed Morsi. He stepped down as defence minister to run for office and won the presidency in 2014, despite earlier statements disavowing political ambitions.
The basic law enacted in 2014 initially capped presidential service at two terms of four years each. However, voters approved a constitutional referendum in 2019 that lengthened presidential terms to six years while creating transitional rules that permitted Sisi to contest another election. He subsequently secured a six-year term during the 2023 vote, establishing 2030 as his current end date.
During the military academy event, Sisi noted that the remaining years of his administration would focus on preparing future leaders. He said the institution is providing instruction in leadership and governance to hundreds of emerging public servants, prospective ministers and potential candidates for the presidency.
Over his 12 years at the helm, Sisi has prioritized state-directed infrastructure initiatives, notably the New Administrative Capital situated east of Cairo. While promoted as key drivers of national growth, these capital-intensive megaprojects have drawn scrutiny from economists and opponents who argue heavy borrowing has exacerbated Egypt's debt challenges and domestic economic strain.
His administration has concurrently faced recurrent criticism from global human rights monitors regarding curbs on political dissent, civil society organizations and free speech. Egyptian authorities have routinely dismissed these assertions, maintaining that firm security measures remain vital to safeguarding the country's stability.
Spotted an error? Report it · Editorial standards · Corrections policy
Source & verification
VerifiedReported from Dawn (Pakistan).
Get breaking news alerts and the Morning Briefing
Verified stories in your inbox, every one linked to its sources. All newsletters →