Egypt’s Sisi says presidency will end in 2030, proposes leadership programme

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Saturday that he would leave office when his current term expires in 2030 and that the constitution would not be amended to extend his presidency.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital, Sisi described his departure as “completely settled” and said it would not be debated. The former army general became president in 2014 and was re-elected in 2023 to a six-year term.

Constitutional amendments approved by referendum in 2019 extended presidential terms from four to six years and included provisions allowing Sisi to seek a third term, keeping him in office through 2030.

Sisi also proposed a 30-month programme at the military academy to prepare a new generation for leadership positions, including the presidency, ministries, parliament and provincial government. He said it would target doctorate holders from reputable Egyptian and foreign universities, with applicants generally between 40 and 50 years old. The programme could admit between 200 and 1,000 participants, and the armed forces would cover its costs.

A committee overseen by the speaker of parliament and including the ministers of higher education and justice, politicians and intellectuals would establish selection criteria and draft legislation governing the programme. Sisi said graduates would provide Egyptians with a pool of qualified people from whom to choose future leaders, but did not explain how they would be nominated for elected or appointed positions.