The simulation took place during an event marking the inauguration of the State Strategic Command in the New Capital, where El-Sisi also inspected the State Defence Coordination Centre and watched a documentary on its role.
The event was attended by Speaker of the House of Representatives Hisham Badawy, Speaker of the Senate Essam El-Din Farid, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Defence and Military Production and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, commanders of the Armed Forces’ main branches, ministers, and senior state officials.
According to Presidential Spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy, El-Sisi was received upon arrival at the Egyptian Military Academy, located at the Strategic Command headquarters, with a military salute by the guard of honour, while the national anthem was played.
The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a speech by PM Madbouly and a parade of equipment used by state agencies to respond to various crises.
The equipment included assets designated for dealing with terrorist incidents, health emergencies linked to pandemics, natural and industrial disasters, search-and-rescue operations, and medical evacuations.
Following the parade, El-Sisi praised the efforts of Egyptian state agencies, stressing that the Strategic Command will be responsible for managing and coordinating the work of state institutions and governorates during crises.
The president said similar systems are used in many countries to protect citizens during emergencies, adding that states must continuously develop their capabilities and resources.
El-Sisi noted that Egypt already has civil protection units but said it was necessary to organize these capabilities within a single entity capable of providing strong support in responding to any crisis or disaster.
He said the capabilities displayed during the event represented only a small portion of what the state possesses to respond to crises, stressing that the state's role extends beyond meeting citizens' daily needs.
The president said the inauguration of the Strategic Command and Tuesday's event were intended to inform citizens about the state's capabilities and level of preparedness.
He also underlined the importance of conducting regular simulations of crises and disasters to ensure that state agencies can respond efficiently rather than randomly.
El-Sisi said crisis management depends on several factors, including training, the availability of equipment, and ensuring that such equipment remains operational and ready for use.
He called for conducting crisis or disaster simulations at least once or twice a year, saying citizens should be aware of the major efforts the state is making in this field.
The president also stressed the need to raise public awareness across different sectors of society, including through schools, universities, mosques, and churches, to help citizens respond effectively during crises and reduce their impact.
He added that the state must anticipate and assess potential crises while keeping citizens informed of the measures being taken. El-Sisi said this responsibility falls on both state institutions and various media outlets.
At the conclusion of his remarks, the president thanked Madbouly, the cabinet, and the Armed Forces for their efforts in organizing the event and presenting the state's crisis-management capabilities to the public.
Tuesday’s simulation came three days after El-Sisi officially inaugurated the Armed Forces’ Strategic Command Headquarters in the New Capital, marking the formal launch of Egypt’s largest and most advanced strategic command facility.
The headquarters, also known as the Octagon, is designed not only as the new headquarters of the Armed Forces but also as a central command-and-control hub linking the military, ministries, governorates, government agencies, and other state institutions through secure communications and information networks.
The complex consists of eight interconnected main buildings representing the Armed Forces’ branches and strategic departments, as well as two central structures dedicated to the political leadership.
At its centre is the Central Command Building, designed to ensure the rapid flow of information and coordination of command decisions.
The facility covers around 22,000 feddans, or about 92 square kilometres, and is divided into 13 integrated strategic and logistical zones. It includes cloud data centres, independent energy stations, advanced water and cooling systems, and residential facilities designed to sustain operations during exceptional circumstances.
The complex is also equipped with advanced command-and-control systems, encrypted communications, high-speed fibre-optic networks, cybersecurity systems, underground data and communications centres, satellite-supported reconnaissance capabilities, and AI-supported data analysis tools to help decision-makers receive and process information in real time.
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