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

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

Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital, Sisi described his departure in 2030 as “completely settled” and said it would not be discussed further. The 71-year-old former general has served as president since 2014 and was re-elected in December 2023 to a six-year term. Constitutional amendments approved in 2019 extended presidential terms from four years to six and allowed him to seek a third term.

Sisi also proposed a 30-month programme at the military academy to prepare potential candidates for senior leadership roles, including the presidency, ministries, parliament and governorates. He said it would recruit doctorate holders from reputable Egyptian and foreign universities and teach participants about the state, its resources and their protection.

According to Egyptian Streets and The National, applicants would be between 40 and 50 years old, and the programme could accept up to 1,000 participants. The armed forces would cover its costs.

Sisi said a committee overseen by the speaker of parliament and including politicians, intellectuals and the ministers of higher education and justice would establish selection criteria and draft legislation governing the initiative. He did not explain how graduates would be nominated for elected or appointed positions, but said Egyptians would be able to choose among those prepared by the programme.