Egypt - December 2023

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was re-elected for a third term in office, winning 89.6 per cent of the vote in presidential elections held between 10 and 12 December. According to Egypt's National Election Authority, the electoral process was marked by a record turnout of 66.8 per cent. There were no female candidates. International observers noted the smooth execution of the voting process and praised Egypt's efforts in conducting the election. El-Sisi’s win solidifies his position as the country's leader for another six years, starting from April 2024, after already being in power for a decade. As per the Egyptian Constitution, it is anticipated that this will be his last term. However, the landslide victory raises questions about the state of democracy in the country, particularly considering the absence of robust opposition as el-Sisi's authority remains unchallenged and the space for democratic discourse appears to be shrinking.

Sources: Egypt State Information Service (1), Al Jazeera, Egypt Today, Egypt State Information Service (2), African Union, Africa News, Amnesty International, International IDEA