'Egypt is fighting war against rogue elements supported by malicious foreign forces,' PM tells MPs
Gamal Essam El-Din, , Sunday 3 May 2020
The prime minister told MPs that the government is extending the state of emergency as a necessary tool to stand up to threats targeting the security of Egypt


Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that Egypt and the Arab region are still facing threats and troubles that target their security and stability.

Addressing MPs on the government’s decision to extend the state of emergency for another six months, Madbouly said “you should all be aware of the threats and troubles which still target the Arab world, the Middle East and even the world as a whole.”

Madbouly said Egypt is not afraid of these threats and troubles that target our homeland.

“They will never shake our strong belief that we live on a land preserved by God and that its soldiers are some of the best in the world,” said Madbouly.

Madbouly added that “we have full confidence in our military and police forces who have shouldered for years the burden of defending our homeland against rogue elements supported by some malicious forces to target Egypt.”

“These forces will be vanquished and Egypt will stay living in peace and security as it used to be over the ages,” said Madbouly.

Madbouly began his statement by referring to “the heinous terrorist attack which hit Bir Al-Abd town in North Sinai on 30 April, and at the hands of a wicked group which kills even during the holy month of Ramadan.”

“This is part of the threats we still face, but we are strong and we are confident that the people of Egypt support its leadership and army which have never been intimidated by these terrorist acts,” said Madbouly, adding that “regardless of any threats, the wheels of life in Egypt will go on turning, the implementation of economic development plans, the programmes of raising the standard of living and the policies of social protection will continue to achieve the interests of the great Egyptian people.”

Referring to the spread of the coronavirus across the world and its negative impact, Madbouly said “Egypt came ahead of most world countries in taking early preventative and precautionary measures, and as a result God saved us from the astronomical numbers which many countries now suffer in terms of infections and deaths.”

“God also helped us support all citizens who suffered from the repercussions of the pandemic and also support factories whose production stopped or dropped due to the crisis.”

Madbouly indicated that the government has drawn up several scenarios in a scientific way so that the country can get out of the crisis.

“These scenarios go in line with the medical and protective norms set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and all we hope is that citizens abide by these norms and by measures taken by the Ministry of Health in this respect in order to preserve lives and maintain the safety of our country as a whole,” said Madbouly.

In light of the above, Madbouly said all members of the cabinet decided to approve the president’s decree (168/2020) on extending the state of emergency for another three months, beginning on 1am, 28 April, 2020.

“The government renews its pledge that it will use the exceptional powers granted by this decree in a way that will strike a balance between the protection of public freedoms and the necessities of national security,” said Madbouly, asking MPs to approve the new extension in line with Article 154 of Egypt’s 2014 constitution.

Madbouly said the extension of the state of emergency will help the military and police forces do their job in combating terrorists and also allow the state to implement its development plans across Egypt.

Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said the decree will be studied by the House’s general committee in line with Article 131 of the internal bylaws and a report in this respect will be discussed and voted on in a plenary session.

The state of emergency was declared in Egypt in May 2017 following two terrorist attacks that targeted two churches in Tanta and Alexandria, leaving 22 dead.

The new extension is expected to gain an easy approval, particularly as it comes after three days of bloody clashes between the Armed Forces and terrorist groups in North Sinai where Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, an affiliate of the Islamic State group, has been operating.

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