By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, on his re-election as president of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Ramaphosa says the elections reflect the will of the people of Egypt in charting their future.
The President also commends the other candidates for participating in the elections in a gracious and commendable manner.
“Government reiterates its commitment to continue working with the Government and people of Egypt for the mutual benefit of the two countries, to build strong people-to-people ties, and collaborate together in consolidation of the African Agenda,” says spokesperson in the Presidency, Vincent Magwenya.
“The President further wishes to congratulate the National Election Authority of Egypt and all national stakeholders for their collective efforts in ensuring a conducive environment in which the elections were conducted.
“The South African Government looks forward to further strengthening bilateral relations with the Government of Egypt,” adds Magwenya.
South Africa and Egypt enjoy cordial bilateral relations underpinned by strong historical and fraternal bonds dating back to the era of the liberation struggle. South Africa considers Egypt a strategic partner that supported the liberation struggle.
His victory comes despite a painful economic crisis, marked by a currency plunge and runaway household prices, and heightened regional tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in neighbouring Gaza.
Annual inflation is running at 36.4 percent, sending up prices of some food staples by the week and hurting household budgets in the country of nearly 106 million.
Even before the current economic crisis, about two thirds of Egypt’s population were living on or below the poverty line.
A decade-long crackdown on dissent had eliminated any serious competition for Sisi, Egypt’s fifth president to emerge from within the ranks of the military since 1952.
It was the third time in a decade Sisi wins a landslide victory, albeit with his smallest margin. In both 2014 and 2018, Sisi won over 96 percent of the vote.