AMEDA unveils modernisation steps for African, ME depositories    US Military Official Discusses Gaza Aid Challenges: Why Airdrops Aren't Enough    US Embassy in Cairo announces Egyptian-American musical fusion tour    ExxonMobil's Nigerian asset sale nears approval    Chubb prepares $350M payout for state of Maryland over bridge collapse    Argentina's GDP to contract by 3.3% in '24, grow 2.7% in '25: OECD    Turkey's GDP growth to decelerate in next 2 years – OECD    $17.7bn drop in banking sector's net foreign assets deficit during March 2024: CBE    EU pledges €7.4bn to back Egypt's green economy initiatives    Egypt, France emphasize ceasefire in Gaza, two-state solution    Norway's Scatec explores 5 new renewable energy projects in Egypt    Microsoft plans to build data centre in Thailand    Japanese Ambassador presents Certificate of Appreciation to renowned Opera singer Reda El-Wakil    Health Minister, Johnson & Johnson explore collaborative opportunities at Qatar Goals 2024    WFP, EU collaborate to empower refugees, host communities in Egypt    Al-Sisi, Emir of Kuwait discuss bilateral ties, Gaza takes centre stage    Sweilam highlights Egypt's water needs, cooperation efforts during Baghdad Conference    AstraZeneca, Ministry of Health launch early detection and treatment campaign against liver cancer    AstraZeneca injects $50m in Egypt over four years    Egypt, AstraZeneca sign liver cancer MoU    Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23    Amir Karara reflects on 'Beit Al-Rifai' success, aspires for future collaborations    Climate change risks 70% of global workforce – ILO    Prime Minister Madbouly reviews cooperation with South Sudan    Egypt retains top spot in CFA's MENA Research Challenge    Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    President Al-Sisi embarks on new term with pledge for prosperity, democratic evolution    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Uppingham Cairo and Rafa Nadal Academy Unite to Elevate Sports Education in Egypt with the Introduction of the "Rafa Nadal Tennis Program"    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



In-Focus: Al-Sisi's challenges
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 29 - 03 - 2018


اقرأ باللغة العربية
Egypt's National Elections Committee will officially announce the results of the presidential elections on Monday 2 April, and it is virtually certain that President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi will win a second term until 2022.
In the light of the debate before, during and after the elections, it is important to discuss the goals and challenges facing Al-Sisi during his second term in office, which will officially begin in June. These include reaping the rewards of the country's economic reform programme, the major development projects launched during his first term in areas such as housing, roads, construction, factory building, the reclamation of agricultural land and gas and petroleum prospecting, and making Egypt a regional hub for energy.
These things will make everyone feel it is time to reap rewards, giving to all a real and tangible sense of stability, greater productivity, growing resources and exports.
Terrorism remains a major challenge that Al-Sisi will continue to confront in his second term, after the people chose to defend the 30 June 2013 Revolution and the goals subsequently announced on 3 July. As upheaval in the region continues, the weakness and sometimes complicity of the international community in the war against terrorism has allowed terrorism to continue and remain linked to domestic conditions in some regional countries. Terrorist groups and their financiers, supporters, trainers and political and logistical backers are still a major threat, with terrorists moving under international cover from one area to the next to play the roles that have been written out for them.
Terrorism is linked with the circumstances of the region as well as the power relations that exist within several influential countries in it and the political and economic projects that are linked to them. This means that President Al-Sisi and his administration must remain independent and fully engaged on all regional issues, unbiased in conflicts and keep Egypt's interests in mind irrespective of their acceptance or rejection by regional or international players. Egypt must take the initiative to put forward moderate proposals for political solutions to issues and conflicts and open communication channels with all sides. This will help it to unify efforts to fight terrorism and those who support terrorism, isolating and weakening them on vital issues.
At the forefront of such challenges is Palestinian reconciliation and the ending of the disputes among factions in the Occupied Territories. Israel must be forced to shoulder responsibilities that it has been deflecting due to the weakness and inconsistency of the Palestinian front. The presence of a strong Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip will also better control the border areas and end smuggling to terrorist groups in North Sinai.
Much the same type of challenge faces Egypt on its western border with Libya, where there are major initiatives supporting a political solution that will end the divisions in the country, and bring together multiple seats of power and decision-making around one clear position supporting the national Libyan army in taking control on the ground. This will halt the armed terrorist groups that are entrenching divisions in the country and using Libya as a launching pad to threaten Egypt's national security and smuggle people and arms across the border.
The same is true of Syria, Yemen and Iraq, especially in the Kurdish areas, which all intersect with the interests of countries fighting over energy resources. Because of Egypt's large gas and energy reserves, it too will likely become party to direct and indirect conflicts until regional understandings are reached on these resources. Egypt has prepared for this through strong military, bilateral and international agreements to protect its territorial waters. Such conflicts are likely to continue even beyond Al-Sisi's second term, and he will need to act strongly to protect Egypt's interests from regional chaos.
Water is another strategic issue, and Al-Sisi's next administration must take steps to negotiate with the countries of the Nile Basin, especially Ethiopia, in order to guarantee that Egypt's quota of water from the Nile is untouched. This will require using all forms of legitimate pressure during the negotiations and creating understanding among Egypt's neighbouring countries and within international and regional organisations of Egypt's position and actions. There must be guaranteed support for legal or political action if Egypt's vital interests are ignored or harmed.
However, the greatest challenge in the coming four years may be the next presidential race in 2022. The political climate cannot remain the same as it has over the past four years, and it must become more encouraging. We must overcome the challenges placed on us as a society and a country by reviving the role of political parties and political and intellectual currents. We must examine the political reality in Egypt closely and the obstacles holding us back in order to bring about a conscious movement aware of the type of challenges we are facing and generating appropriate figures to run for parliament, the presidency, and in local elections.
The fate of the country cannot be left to the unknown, which in the past handed us over to dark forces that almost destroyed the country and its people.
In order to face such domestic and regional challenges, the Egyptian state must see the development of a strong and vivacious domestic front moving in many directions and not just one. This will require the adjustment of the current cultural and media messages in order to revive institutions that shape awareness, making them melting pots for ideas that will propel society towards progress, success and innovation.


Clic here to read the story from its source.