Government and Politics of Egypt

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj

Legal System

based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: if the father was born in Egypt dual citizenship recognized: only with prior permission from the government residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Abdel Fattah el-SISI (since 8 June 2014); el-SISI, a former military commander, led a coup that removed President Mohamed MORSI in July 2013 and subsequently won the presidential election in May 2014; reelected in March 2018 and again in December 2023 for a six-year term head of government: Prime Minister Mostafa MADBOULY (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, with the approval of the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; the 2019 constitutional amendments removed the two-term limit, allowing el-SISI to remain eligible through at least 2030; most recent election held in December 2023 election results: Abdel Fattah el-SISI reelected president in December 2023; percent of vote - Abdel Fattah el-SISI approximately 89.6%, Hazem OMAR approximately 4.5%, Farid ZAHRAN approximately 4.0%, Abdel-Sanad YAMAMA approximately 1.8%

Legislative Branch

Egypt's legislature has undergone significant restructuring since the 2011 revolution that ended the Mubarak era. Under the 2014 constitution, Egypt operates with a bicameral parliament consisting of the House of Representatives (Majlis al-Nowwab) and the Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh). The House of Representatives is the primary legislative chamber, comprising 596 seats. Of these, 448 seats are filled through individual candidacy, 120 seats are elected via party lists, and 28 seats are appointed by the president. Members serve five-year terms. The most recent elections were held in October–November 2020, with the Nation's Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan) emerging as the dominant force, securing the largest bloc of seats. The House is responsible for passing legislation, approving the state budget, and overseeing the executive branch. The Senate serves in a consultative capacity and replaced the Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura), which had been dissolved following the 2011 revolution. The Senate consists of 300 seats, with 100 seats appointed by the president, 100 filled through individual candidacy, and 100 elected via party lists. Senators serve five-year terms. Senate elections were last held in August–September 2020, with the Nation's Future Party also securing a majority of the elected seats. Both chambers were reconstituted under constitutional amendments approved in 2019, which also extended presidential term limits and formally reestablished the upper chamber after years of unicameral governance.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Political Parties

National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (governing party)]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMAA]; Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOUR] note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government

Head of State

President Abdel Fattah el-SISI

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mostafa MADBOULY

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Election Results

Egypt's political landscape has been shaped by a series of elections held under varying degrees of openness and competitive freedom. The country operates as a presidential republic, with the president serving as head of state and holding significant executive authority. In the most recent presidential election, held in December 2023, incumbent President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi secured a third six-year term in office. El-Sisi received approximately 89.6 percent of the vote, with three other candidates on the ballot. Official turnout was reported at around 66.8 percent of eligible voters. Critics and international human rights organizations noted that the political environment limited meaningful opposition, with several prominent potential candidates having withdrawn from the race or faced legal obstacles to participation prior to the election. El-Sisi first came to power following the military's removal of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. He was formally elected president in May 2014, winning with about 96.9 percent of the vote in a two-candidate race. He was re-elected in March 2018 with approximately 97 percent of the vote, again in a contest with limited competitive opposition. Parliamentary elections were held in October and November 2020 for Egypt's House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the bicameral legislature. The Nation's Future Party, which is broadly supportive of the Sisi government, won the largest share of seats, securing over 315 of the 568 elected seats. Independent candidates aligned with the ruling establishment also performed strongly. The elections saw relatively low voter turnout, with official figures placed at around 28 percent. Egypt also holds elections for the Senate, reinstated as an advisory upper chamber following constitutional amendments approved by referendum in 2019. Those amendments also extended presidential term limits, allowing el-Sisi to potentially remain in office until 2030. International observers and civil society groups have consistently raised concerns about restrictions on political parties, freedom of the press, and civil liberties in relation to the electoral process in Egypt. The government maintains that elections are conducted in accordance with national law and constitutional frameworks.

Constitution

11-Sep-71

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK)

National Holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, ACC, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador designate Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr. embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300 FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200

Capital City

Cairo

Location

30 03 N, 31 15 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

from the Arabic "al-Qahira," meaning "the victorious"

U.S. Embassy Cairo Consular Section 5 Tawfik Diab Street Garden City, Cairo telephone: (20) 2-2797-2301 fax: (20) 2-2797-2472 email: consularcairoacs@state.gov Website: http://egypt.usembassy.gov/index.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyCairo For after-hours emergencies involving U.S. citizens, call (20) 2-2797-3300. The American Citizens Services unit uses an online appointment system for those coming to the Embassy to receive routine consular services Sunday through Wednesday, except for official holidays (U.S. and Egyptian). Phone-inquiry hours are between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The latest Embassy Emergency or Security Message for U.S. Citizens can be found at http://egypt.usembassy.gov The mailing address from the United States is: Consular Section, Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900. Within Egypt or from a third country, it is 8 Kamal el-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt. Consular information is available on the U.S. Embassy Cairo web site. Visa-related inquiries should be sent by e-mail.

Military Branches

Army, Navy, Egyptian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya il-Misriya), Egyptian Air Defense Command

Service Age and Obligation

18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation - 18-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; voluntary enlistment possible from age 16