On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated that his time in office would draw to a close in 2030 and described that departure as beyond question. He also unveiled a proposed scheme to cultivate Egyptian doctorate holders for senior leadership roles, with a pathway that could eventually extend to presidential candidacy.
Al-Sisi made the remarks while addressing graduates assembled at a ceremony for Egypt's military academy and colleges, an occasion that fell shortly after he had stated publicly that the constitution would not be altered in ways that could extend his time in power. He told those present that he planned to transfer leadership in 2030, contingent on his being alive and the country standing on firm ground. He added that anyone who carried undisclosed interests or had worked against the nation's welfare would not be permitted to assume that role. He went on to say that his remaining period in office would be directed toward strengthening state institutions and building up national cadres prepared to take on governing duties.
Under the scheme outlined by the president, doctoral graduates from universities in Egypt and abroad — falling within the 40-to-50 age bracket — would be selected for a 30-month training course at the military academy, with all associated costs met by that institution. The parliament speaker would chair the process, drawing in a mix of political figures, intellectuals, and representatives from the Higher Education and Justice ministries, with dedicated legislation to be drawn up governing how the initiative would operate.
Under the plan put forward by Al-Sisi, those taking part would first complete a preparation programme covering how the state functions before advancing to the stages of candidate selection and voting. No intake limits or detailed eligibility conditions — beyond age and academic standing — were laid out in the remarks about the programme. No account was given of how the outlined procedure would sit alongside the constitutional and legal framework already governing who may run for president.
In remarks about the period ahead, Al-Sisi outlined plans to bolster government institutions and cultivate a new cohort of public officials, describing his core responsibility as delivering the state to future stewardship in a position of strength.
Elsewhere in the address, Al-Sisi indicated that Egypt stood ready to carry out whatever steps Saudi Arabia might call upon it to take in defence of the kingdom's territorial integrity and security. He indicated that parliament stood ready to convene in an extraordinary session to authorise military involvement should a formal appeal come from Riyadh, and he stated that Egypt would stand alongside Gulf nations in the face of any threat directed at their land or stability.
The statement arrived against a backdrop of attacks on Saudi Arabia and broader unease across the region, with Egyptian officials having long maintained that the stability of Gulf nations bears directly on their own country's security.
