Egypt’s el-Sissi begins 2nd term amid crackdown on dissent
CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was sworn in for a second four-year term on Saturday after being re-elected in a vote earlier this year in which he faced no serious challengers
El-Sissi took the oath of office before parliament amid tight security across much of Cairo. Police sealed off roads leading to parliament in central Cairo for more than three hours. After the oath, artillery fired a celebratory 21-gun salute.
In an address to the packed chamber, el-Sissi vowed to continue working to restore stability, revive the economy and combat an insurgency by Islamic militants centred in the northern Sinai Peninsula. He said in his second term he would focus on education and health care.
“Egypt can include all of us, with all our diversity and richness… except those who choose violence and terror to impose their will and power. Egypt is for all and I am a president of all those who agree with me or disagree,” he said at the ceremony, also attended by his Cabinet and religious leaders.