Military prosecution imposes Gag order on Sami Anan's case

CAIRO - 23 January 2018: The military prosecution has imposed a gag order on the case of former Chief of Staff and presidential hopeful Sami Anan after he was summoned Tuesday over forgery charges.

Anan released a video early Saturday announcing his presidential bid, only hours after President Abedl Fatah al-Sisi declared he is running for a second term. However, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces issued a strongly-worded statement Tuesday, accusing Anan of procedural violations and, notably, of driving a wedge between the army and the Egyptian people.



Anan does not have a military permission terminating his service at the Armed Forces, according to a SCAF statement. Anan's son, Samir, told Egypt Today on Tuesday that his father is under arrest at the military prosecution headquarters.

Anan has “unprecedentedly” violated the rules of the Armed Forces the statement added, saying that “In the light of the announcement given by Major General Sami Anan, who is still under the call-up service, over his candidacy for the post of the state president, the Armed Forces can never condone blatant legal violations committed by the aforementioned general against the rules and regulations of the military services.”

The announcement of his candidacy included clear incitement against the Armed Forces to drive a wedge between the military and Egyptian people, the statement continued.

Anan announced on Saturday his intention to run in the 2018 presidential election, scheduled for March 26 and 28 Egypt, in a video posted on Anan's official Facebook page.

“I made my decision to present my nomination papers to the National Electoral Commission as a presidential candidate, in accordance to the announced rules and dates by the commission,” Anan said.

Anan served as Egypt’s army chief of staff and the second man in the Supreme Council of Armed Forces from 2005 until 2012, when he was forced to retire from his post by former president Mohamed Morsi.

A pro-Anan campaign, formed by Masr Al-Orouba Al-Democraty Party (Egypt Arabism Democratic Party), has announced the suspension of its activities until further notice.