Egyptians began casting ballots Monday in a three-day, no-contest presidential election predestined to grant incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi another four-year term. When he ran against a single rival in 2014, Sisi secured 96.1 per cent of the vote. Sisi has prioritised costly monumental projects – expanding the Suez canal and constructing a new administrative capital – that do not benefit the majority of Egyptians. Sisi has jailed radical jihadis, Muslim brothers and liberal dissidents and critics and cracked down on the media. Disillusioned and apathetic voters have no option but to reappoint Sisi in an election he transformed into a referendum.

Source: The Irish Times March 26, 2018 14:48 UTC