President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi declared Wednesday that Egypt’s military is fully prepared to defend the nation against external threats, speaking during a Prophet Muhammed’s Birthday address in the New Administrative Capital amid heightened tensions with Ethiopia over Nile River waters.
El-Sisi’s national security warning comes as Cairo faces an escalating political dispute with Addis Ababa following Ethiopian Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa’s announcement that Nile water flows downstream are now under Ethiopia’s absolute control, alongside plans to construct three new dams on the main waterway.
“I reassure you again regarding the vigilance of the Egyptian state with all its agencies toward everything related to our national security,” El-Sisi said, adding that the armed forces are “fully prepared and ready to capably defend Egypt and its resources against any external threat.” He noted that he directly and continuously monitors combat readiness and field efficiency.
El-Sisi emphasized that state attention extends beyond the military institution to all sectors to improve conditions, establish new solutions for decades-old inherited problems, and correct service deficiencies affecting citizens.
Addressing domestic services, El-Sisi ordered a comprehensive review of real estate developers to enforce contracts signed with citizens, specifically regarding unit delivery deadlines, infrastructure, and utility installation. He warned of legal action against developers who collect funds from citizens without meeting deadlines.
“I will be strict on this matter,” El-Sisi said, stating that the government will not ignore citizens’ rights.
On energy, the president directed the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy to directly supervise bill issuance, eliminate arbitrary estimates, and facilitate the payment of overdue balances through installment plans, while submitting regular progress reports.
On consumer markets, El-Sisi instructed the government and the supply minister to tighten market controls through field inspections and expand state retail operations. He ordered the establishment of at least one government retail outlet in every municipality across the republic to provide essential commodities at prices aligned with citizen purchasing power.
Following recent road accidents, El-Sisi directed the interior ministry to intensify traffic enforcement to reduce crashes and restore order to the streets. He also instructed governors and officials to open direct communication channels for citizen complaints and hold corrupt officials accountable.
“There is no place among us for a corrupt person, and no favoritism for anyone who tampers with the rights of the people,” El-Sisi said.
To evaluate broader state performance, El-Sisi called for an expanded conference in October lasting between seven and 10 days, involving the government, intellectuals, specialists, and university professors to present a comprehensive report on state achievements, spending, and results over recent years.
El-Sisi instructed the government to prepare a full report on actual achievements across state sectors, including total expenditures and outcomes, to present to the public during the event.
“We give the opportunity to thinkers, specialists, and university professors to participate, so that it becomes an opportunity to present topics, challenges, and implemented projects and address them over a week or 10 days, and we speak with transparency and credibility,” El-Sisi said.
The president noted that he previously requested a government audit comparing total internal and external Egyptian debt against state subsidies provided over the past 50 years.
“We are trying to be honest in what we present because this is the people’s right,” El-Sisi said, acknowledging questions about the state’s trajectory and noting that while achievements are a grace from God, he asks God to pardon shortcomings where efforts did not succeed.
Closing his address, El-Sisi criticized what he called “chaos” on social media and in certain news outlets regarding historical challenges. He cited a lack of public awareness regarding those issues and stressed that citizens must prepare to bear the costs of reform and change.
He described hostile media outlets as untruthful and accused rumor-promoters of trying to disrupt citizen awareness and destroy the nation, stating that Egypt requires work, understanding, and patience amid global political, economic, and security challenges.
