Terrorism on top of security challenges in Sisi’s 2nd term

CAIRO – 3 June 2018: At the beginning of President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi’s second term, security and army experts highlighted long-term challenges that would likely dominate the president’s priorities.

The experts have underscored terrorism, corruption, price hike consequences as the top challenges President Sisi would likely face during his second term. They also called for developing the security system in order to be able to combat various types of crimes.

Hossam Lasheen, former assistant interior minister, said that President Sisi should implement the emergency law, in order to be able to seize drug dealers and put an end to the drug-selling trade. Lasheen also affirmed the necessity of combating illegal immigration, which resulted in the death of numerous Egyptians along the years.


A boat carrying migrants in the Mediterranean Sea on April 12, 2015. REUTERS

Lasheen said that combating terrorism in the Egyptian city of Sinai is a bigger challenge, adding that Egypt managed to purge Sinai from 60 percent of the terrorism in the city.

Concerning security threats, Lasheen warned that the price hike in the country should be gradual, as it would likely cause theft and murder cases to increase.

The Interior Ministry, during President Sisi’s second term, would strengthen its efforts against corruption and illicit gains crimes, Lasheen added.

Lasheen affirmed that foiling destructive plans is a top priority, adding that the forces, during the four past years, managed to destroy 992 terrorist hideouts and eliminate 19,108 terrorists possessing huge amounts of ammunition, arms and explosive devices.

Fouad Allam, a member of the National Council of Terrorism, said that achieving stability for Egypt is the best way to combat terrorism, adding that the state is responsible for cutting off supply lines to terrorist organizations.

Political, social, economic, cultural, intellectual and religious anti-terrorism efforts are also a priority to the state, besides military efforts against terrorism, Allam said. He added that these efforts should all work together on combating the ideology of these terrorist organizations.

Concerning military anti-terrorism efforts, Colonel Hatem Saber, expert in fighting against international terrorism, said that the success of the military “Comprehensive Operation – Sinai 2018” is a priority to the state, adding that the state has managed to significantly cut off political and economic supply lines to terrorist organizations.



In February, army spokesman Colonel Tamer el-Refae announced in a strongly worded televised statement that the military and police forces have initiated Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018.

It involved land, naval and air forces, as well as the police and border guards, targeting "terrorist and criminal elements and organizations" in North and Central Sinai, as well as parts of the Nile Delta and the Western Desert along the porous border with Libya, strongholds of a persistent Islamic State (IS) group insurgency that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and police.

Saber said that the authorities are responsible for destroying the smuggling tunnels used by the elements to smuggle weapons and aid. He also affirmed the necessity to freeze all bank accounts that terrorists use to get financial support.

Saber warned that extremists and terrorists would post negative social media messages through social media platforms, to distort the image of the government by doubting the country’s [economic and other] achievements. He said that combating these messages is a top priority to the state.

Former director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Fadi al-Habashi said that Muslim Brotherhood members, during former MB-affiliated President Mohamed Morsi’s term, have allowed many terrorists to get out of prison, and allowed numerous weapons to enter the country across borders. He referred to the current regime’s responsibility to combat the consequences of such crimes.

Since the ousting of Morsi in 2013, Egypt has seen growing waves of extremism washing over the society and spawning numerous deadly attacks. Among these attacks was the terrorist attack that hit Al-Rawdah Mosque in Al-Arish, North Sinai, and left more than 302 Friday prayer congregants dead in late November.

Habashi called for developing the police system, saying that crimes are renewable, and that some criminals use modern techniques in the crimes they commit. He also called for the continuous support of the security system, affirming its importance for tourism and economy.

Interior Ministry is about to inaugurate one of the largest training institutions in the Middle East, reportedly covering an area of about 78 feddans (1 feddan = 1.038 acres) to train police personnel. The institution has been reportedly equipped with advanced training equipment and programs according to international standards.


Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar during his tour of the police training institution that is under construction - file photo

During his tour of the institution, Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar affirmed the need to train police personnel to be capable of defending the country against whoever looks to destabilize it.

The war against terrorist groups in Sinai since 2013 has left hundreds of victims among civilians and military and police personnel.