President Sisi: Carrying weapons in Sinai or elsewhere in Egypt will not be repeated

CAIRO – 1 April 2023: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi warned that it will not be repeated or allowed anyone from outside the country could carry a weapon in Sinai or elsewhere in Egypt, vowing that those who use weapons against the country and its nation would be fought fiercely.

The President’s warning refers to the terrorist groups when they took Sinai as a hotbed due to a security vacuum in the period between 2005 and 2010.

“The price of this war [against terrorism] here was very high. Blood that was shed here and lives that were lost to restore Sinai's status cost a lot,” he said in a speech at an Iftar party with a number of soldiers and Sinai tribal Sheikhs, on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the 10th of Ramadan, which corresponds to October 6 War, 1973.

The Iftar party was held after an inspection visit to the security installations located at the east of the Suez Canal.

Commenting on the economic crisis, President Sisi said that Egypt is keen to overcome the repercussions and obstacles of the Russian-Ukrainian war, whose impact has reached all countries of the world.

“Although the world is going through an economic crisis that impacted us, we will overcome it,” he said, adding that Egypt has been keen to develop Sinai and eradicate terrorism over the past few years.

“We have already worked and financed projects in Sinai, and we will work and fund more,” he continued, assuring the Egyptians that the current economic crisis will end.

He added that the celebration of victory against terrorism in the land of Sinai will be in a different form in the coming years. “We do appreciate and support the values and norms of Sinai’s tribal Sheikhs,” the President said.

President Abdel also honored a number of soldiers at the east of the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, a group of Sinai Sheikhs presented President Sisi a gift on the anniversary of the glorious victory of the 10th of Ramadan.

During his inspection tour ahead of the Iftar, President Sisi said: “Don’t think that the current [economic] crisis would last. Ten years ago, everyone was asking when terrorism would end. It ended thanks to you. This current crisis will end thanks to you as well.”

On his Twitter account, President Sisi said that: “On the anniversary of the 10th of Ramadan victory, the day victory was achieved to our dear Egypt after the army and people united in a brilliant scene.”

“I am pleased to be among my sons, fighters of the Armed Forces, in the East of Suez Canal on the precious land of Sinai. I am proud of their competence and high combat readiness,” President Sisi added.

Saturday marks the anniversary of the victory, when the Egyptian army launched a surprise attack against Israeli forces in the occupied Sinai supported by the Air Force. The army managed to cross the Suez Canal and dislodge the Israelis on the other side of the international waterway.

During his inspection visit, President Sisi met with the fighters of the command of the forces to combat terrorism east of the canal, as well as the fighters of the second and third field armies.