Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said his current term would end in 2030 and proposed a leadership course at the Egyptian Military Academy, while calling for legislation to set selection rules.
The Egyptian Presidency said El-Sisi attended the academy’s first-batch graduation ceremony on Oct. 17. Reuters and Ahram Online reported that he said Egypt’s Constitution would not be changed to extend his tenure.
Ahram Online reported a 30-month schedule with more than 7,500 hours of training. The reported applicants would be ages 40 to 50, hold doctoral degrees from Egyptian or foreign universities and pass admission tests. Ahram Online and EgyptToday reported that El-Sisi said the armed forces would cover the cost; neither outlet gave an estimate.
El-Sisi called for a committee including the House Speaker, politicians, intellectuals, and the ministers of higher education and justice. Reuters and Ahram Online reported that it would set selection criteria and draft legislation.
The proposal does not specify how graduates would qualify for the presidential ballot or whether completing the course would be required to run for president, Reuters and Al Manassa reported. El-Sisi gave no timetable for the committee’s work, Reuters and Ahram Online reported.
Reuters said the plan would give the academy a central role in preparing future leaders, against a backdrop of the armed forces’ influence beyond national defense.
The State Information Service reported in 2017 that El-Sisi said he would not seek a third term under the then-existing limit of two four-year terms. Constitutional amendments adopted in 2019 set presidential terms at six years and included a transitional provision allowing him to seek another term after his 2018 election. The State Information Service says his current six-year term began April 3, 2024.
