Al-Sisi announces he will step down in 2030

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced Saturday that he will step down when his current term ends in 2030, calling the decision final. The declaration came during a graduation ceremony at Egypt's Military Academy on October 17, amid ongoing debate in the country over whether he would seek to remain in power beyond his current term.

"In 2030, I will finish my term as president. This matter is settled. We will live and see," al-Sisi said. He added that Egypt's constitution would not be amended to allow him to extend his tenure, emphasizing that the issue is no longer up for discussion as far as he is concerned.

Alongside his announcement, the president unveiled a plan to train a new generation of leaders for the country. Under the program, Egypt's Military Academy will prepare candidates holding doctoral degrees from leading universities in Egypt and abroad over a 30-month period. The training will focus on state management, resources, and the responsibilities of those heading government institutions.

Egyptian military (Photo: Official Spokesperson of the Armed Forces)

According to al-Sisi, graduates of the program will be eligible for senior leadership positions, including the presidency, cabinet ministries, provincial governorships, and parliament. A committee including the parliamentary speaker, ministers, and public and academic figures is expected to formulate the criteria for selecting candidates and prepare the necessary legislation. However, the president did not detail exactly how graduates would be chosen for the various positions.

Al-Sisi, 71, has served as Egypt's president since 2014. He came to power following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, and was subsequently re-elected in elections held in December 2023.

A constitutional amendment approved in 2019 extended the presidential term from four to six years and allowed al-Sisi to run for an additional term, enabling him to remain in office until 2030. If he indeed leaves the presidency at the date he announced, he will have completed 16 years in power.

Despite the firm declaration, not everyone is convinced that al-Sisi will actually step down on schedule. In recent days, reports have emerged of a campaign by his supporters calling to allow him to run for yet another term, beyond 2030.