Egypt keen to maintain balanced policy amid challenging regional situation: Sisi at Police Academy

CAIRO – 29 September 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has underlined Egypt’s keenness to maintain balanced policy amidst the current serious regional disruption and extremely difficult circumstances across the region.

“We are keen to practice a policy characterized by balance, moderation, and objectivity,” Sisi said while attending the graduation ceremony of the 2024 class of the Police Academy on Sunday.

Sisi said Egypt has repeatedly warned against the current disturbance and stated that its continuation will lead to serious consequences in the region and possibly in the world.

He expressed understanding of the Egyptian people’s concerns about the critical developments in the region and potential expansion of the conflict, affecting regional stability.

Message of reassurance

However, the president sent a message of reassurance to citizens regarding the nation’s stability, urging them to remain united in the face of the challenges beyond the Egyptian southern, eastern and western borders.

“I assure you that we are fine, and things, by the grace of Allah, are stable, getting better day by day as long as we in Egypt remain united, stable, and determined, all hand in hand,” Sisi said.

“We are keen on managing our affairs in a way that preserves our country and, as much as possible, the region, without getting involved in matters that could affect the security and stability in the region and in our nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the president highlighted that the Suez Canal has lost around 50-60% of its income (more than $6 billion) in the past 7-8 months due to regional tensions.

The president also warned against “an enormous surge in lies, fabrications, slanders, and rumors over the past months,” urging Egyptians to be cautious “because you who are [still] standing on your feet now.”

“The process of lying... and the rumors that are spread here and there, the accusations, I swear to Allah, have no basis of truth at all. They say a lot of things that are untrue, and I am always straightforward and honest with you, and I will remain so throughout my tenure here,” he stressed.

Unprecedented escalation

The president's remarks came amidst an unprecedented escalation in Lebanon as well as the war in Gaza, which is nearing its one-year mark, and the Sudan brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.

Over the past week, Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon have killed around 1,000 individuals, including dozens of children, while the war in Sudan has claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people and injured tens of thousands others over the past 15 months, according to UN estimates.

Meanwhile, the Israeli war in Gaza has killed over 41,500 Palestinians, injured more than 96,200 others, and has pushed the enclave closer to the brink of famine.

Egypt has consistently cautioned against the conflict spreading throughout the region, underscoring that an all-out war would leave no country in the region unaffected.