President el-Sisi clinches overwhelming victory in Egyptian election

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CAIRO, Egypt, Dec 18: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has officially won a third term as the leader of the Middle East’s most populous nation, according to statements from officials. The National Elections Authority announced on Monday that Sisi secured an overwhelming 89.6 percent of the vote, finalizing the counting of ballots from the election held on December 10.

The three-day election, concluding on Tuesday, took place against the backdrop of multiple crises in Egypt, including the Israel-Hamas war in neighboring Gaza and the nation’s most severe economic downturn in history. Despite some ongoing challenges, the outcome of the election was widely expected, reinforcing Sisi’s political dominance.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi first assumed power in 2013 following the overthrow of the country’s first popularly elected president, Mohamed Morsi. Subsequently re-elected in 2018, Sisi achieved similar landslide victories in both previous elections, securing 97% of the vote.

The international community, however, has raised concerns about Egypt’s human rights record under Sisi’s rule. Various rights groups and international monitors have criticized the government for suppressing political freedoms during crackdowns, resulting in the imprisonment of tens of thousands.

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