Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has issued a presidential decree on Thursday that imposes a three-month state of emergency nationwide, after the conclusion of the previous three-month state of emergency.

 

A state of emergency was first declared in April following suicide bombings in churches in Alexandria and Gharbiya on Palm Sunday which killed 47 worshippers.

 

It was subsequently renewed in July.

 

According to Article 154 of the Egyptian constitution, a state of emergency cannot exceed six months from its date of declaration. It also must be approved by parliament within seven days.

 

MENA state agency reported that El-Sisi’s new decree was published in the official state gazette on Thursday, and stipulated the state of emergency will be effective starting Friday at 1am.

 

It also authorised the army and police to undertake the necessary procedures to combat terrorism and to preserve the safety of citizens and public properties across the nation.

 

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail issued a decree stipulating that several crimes that breach certain security and economic laws will be referred to state security emergency courts while the country is under a state of emergency.

 

According to a cabinet statement, the decree covers breaches of laws on protests, assembly, terrorism and strikes.

 

Since 2014 there have been localised states of emergency imposed in some parts of North Sinai, as part of efforts to battle Islamist militants there.