Sisi Affirms 2030 Presidency End, Outlines Military Academy Succession Plan

General22 sourcesOct 18, 2026

SplitFactual rigor 48/100

The Story

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed a program to prepare and qualify potential future candidates for the presidency through a 30-month training at the Egyptian Military Academy.

Sisi made the proposal during a graduation ceremony for new cohorts from military colleges and the Egyptian Military Academy on Saturday. The program would target individuals between the ages of 40-50 who hold doctoral degrees from Egyptian or foreign universities and meet legal requirements for presidential candidacy. The Military Academy would cover all costs of the program.

Sisi discussed preparing groups of 200, 300, or 500 individuals to provide citizens with a pool of qualified candidates. He called upon the Speaker of Parliament, in collaboration with thinkers, politicians, and the Ministries of Higher Education and Justice, to develop a legislative framework and draft a law to regulate the election of those who meet the established criteria.

Sisi stressed that his presidency will definitively end in 2030, calling the date a settled matter and ruling out constitutional amendments. He dismissed speculation that he is grooming a relative to succeed him. Sisi came to power in 2014 and secured re-election in 2018 and 2023. Constitutional amendments passed in 2019 extended presidential terms from four to six years and allowed him to seek a third term, which expires in 2030.

Sisi stated, "No person with malicious intent, no criminal, and no traitor shall ever govern Egypt after me," underscoring the importance of preserving the Egyptian state and its future.

What they agree on

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated on Saturday that his presidential term will definitively end in 2030.
Sisi ruled out further constitutional amendments to extend his rule.
He proposed a 30-month training program at the Egyptian Military Academy to prepare future presidential candidates.
The program would target individuals with doctoral degrees, aged 40-50, who meet legal candidacy requirements.
Sisi called for a legislative framework to be developed by parliament, intellectuals, politicians, and relevant ministries to govern the election of qualified candidates.

Where they split

Some sources, such as Egypt Independent and Asharq Al-Awsat, provide more detail on the proposed training program, including the number of potential participants (200, 300, or 500) and the academy covering costs, while others, including The Japan Times and Xinhua, offer a more concise overview.
The National includes a specific detail that Sisi did not specify whether both civilian and military candidates can apply, a point not explicitly raised in other reports.
Asharq Al-Awsat includes commentary from "political and strategic affairs experts" who view Sisi's remarks as a "major shift and a historic precedent," a framing not present in other articles.
The National also mentions Sisi's prior insistence that government employees, from school teachers to mosque imams and diplomats, must train at the military academy, providing additional context on the military's role.