President Sisi Urges National Unity and Institutional Coordination at Strategic Command Meeting

Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News

Egypt News

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for closer coordination between state institutions, stronger public confidence and more effective use of national resources during a wide-ranging meeting with the cabinet, governors, military and police leaders, local community representatives and policy experts.

The meeting took place at the State’s Strategic Command headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended alongside the full cabinet and all provincial governors. Senior officials from the armed forces and Interior Ministry, village leaders from several governorates, academics and specialists also took part.

According to the presidential spokesperson, President Sisi said the meeting was intended to become a regular forum for exchanging views and assessing the challenges facing the country. He emphasized that Egypt’s security and stability depended not only on military capabilities but also on public awareness, administrative performance and the ability of government institutions to work together.

The president warned that attempts to undermine Egypt could take many forms, including campaigns conducted through social media. He said the country needed to improve its ability to respond to misinformation and other efforts designed to weaken confidence in state institutions.

President Sisi described public awareness as a principal defense against destabilization. He argued that the least expensive way to destroy a state was to persuade its own citizens to participate in that process by spreading frustration, mistrust and division.

His remarks placed particular emphasis on the years between 2011 and 2013, a period marked by political upheaval, economic disruption and institutional uncertainty. President Sisi said the consequences of those events had caused a contraction in the Egyptian economy and that recovery could take as long as 15 years. He added that the most significant challenge after 2013 had been preserving the state and its institutions.

The president linked Egypt’s economic difficulties to a series of external shocks since 2020. These included the coronavirus pandemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine and the continuing conflict in Gaza. He said the regional crisis had affected energy costs, food prices, shipping and national revenues.

President Sisi stated that Egypt had lost approximately $20 billion in Suez Canal income in recent years because of instability in the region and disruptions to maritime traffic. The canal is a major source of foreign currency for Egypt, and attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Red Sea have forced many ships to take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope. Earlier official and international reports have also linked regional instability to a sharp decline in canal traffic and revenue.

The president reaffirmed Egypt’s stated commitment to peace and its support for a political settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said the Palestinian issue remained the central cause of instability in the Middle East and argued that a two-state solution was the only path to lasting regional peace.

President Sisi also said Egypt supported the security and stability of the Gulf Arab states and called for freedom of navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law. He warned that continued escalation in the region would impose additional costs on ordinary Egyptians through higher oil prices and more expensive essential goods.

The meeting also addressed local administration and the role of village leaders. Egypt has roughly 4,500 villages, which are home to about half of the country’s population, according to the presidential account. President Sisi said local officials should play a larger role in identifying community needs and helping residents deal with social and economic problems.

The mayor of al-Sararia village in Minya Governorate described efforts to establish a committee of local intellectuals to respond to rumors and provide accurate information. He also outlined programs aimed at supporting low-income families, identifying orphaned children in need of assistance, organizing Quran memorization competitions and combating child marriage.

President Sisi praised the village’s initiatives as an example of constructive local leadership. He said practical work was one of the most effective ways to counter rumors because visible improvements could strengthen public confidence.

The president also called for closer cooperation between government agencies, religious institutions and local communities. He suggested that preachers from the Ministry of Endowments and Christian clergy could contribute to public education campaigns about the risks of undermining state institutions. He further proposed that awareness messages be delivered regularly in schools as part of a continuing institutional program.

New government employees are already receiving training at the Egyptian Military Academy before joining ministries, President Sisi said. The courses are intended to introduce them to the basic dimensions of Egyptian national security and their responsibilities as public officials.

During the meeting, several ministers reviewed developments in transport, health, local administration, electricity, finance, education, higher education, housing and public utilities. The presentations focused on projects carried out over the past decade, particularly efforts to improve public services and address long-standing infrastructure problems.

President Sisi instructed officials to continue improving services and to treat citizens respectfully. He specifically directed the Interior Ministry to examine ways of reducing vehicle-licensing costs, while again emphasizing the importance of fair and efficient treatment at government offices.

Water security was another major topic during a discussion with students at the military academy. President Sisi said Egypt was giving diplomacy and peaceful solutions priority in dealing with disputes over the Ethiopian dam on the Blue Nile, but added that diplomatic efforts could not come at the expense of Egypt’s existence or the interests of its people.

He said the dam’s construction had accelerated during the political instability that followed the 2011 events, when Egyptian state institutions were weakened. At the same time, he said the government was working to increase water supplies through seawater desalination, wastewater treatment and recycling.

The students also discussed artificial intelligence and the changing regional security environment, including developments affecting the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. President Sisi argued that better education would be essential to preparing future generations for technological change, while warning that policymakers must address both the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence.

The meeting reflected the government’s broader effort to present national security, economic recovery, public services and social cohesion as interconnected priorities. President Sisi’s message was that Egypt’s stability depended on coordinated institutional action, responsible communication and public confidence, particularly as the country continues to face economic pressures and an unsettled regional environment.

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