Sisi's 2030 exit plan would keep Egypt in the army's hands
Sisi's 2030 exit plan would keep Egypt in the army's hands Submitted by Hesham Gaafar on Fri, 10/23/2026 - 20:00 A proposed 30-month Military Academy course for future presidents would let the armed forces decide who is qualified to govern, sidelining parties and narrowing voters' choice Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, between then Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki (left) and Military Academy Director Ashraf…
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced his intention to step down from office in 2030, should he survive that long, and proposed a 30-month program at the Egyptian Military Academy for potential future leaders, including a doctorate requirement. The armed forces would cover the costs, and a committee would draft a law setting the selection criteria.
This proposal essentially centralizes power in the military, allowing only those who have undergone military training to be considered for top positions. The move sidesteps the traditional choice of a successor and the potential for conflict among elites, instead creating a pipeline of trained military personnel who would govern.
The defence minister, Mohamed Zaki, previously oversaw the academy, and the current director, Ashraf Salem Zaher, has now replaced him. The constitution already allows the armed forces to vet presidential candidates, and this proposal reinforces that role. With the approval process expected to happen in 2027, just as the IMF program is set to end and Egypt's financial situation becomes critical, the regime appears to be taking decisive steps to secure its grip on power.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
