Observers hail Egypt's presidential election

Mar 31, 2018

State media said on Thursday El-Sisi secured 92% of the vote, according to preliminary results.

PIC: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi won the elections with a 92%. (AFP)

POLITICS


EGYPT - Election observers from Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) have praised Egypt's recent presidential election that saw Abdel Fattah el-Sisi get his second term.

In their joint preliminary statement, the observers said the election held from March 26 to 28 was conducted under conditions of transparency, inclusiveness, credibility and regularity.

"The group of observers of CEN-SAD and COMESA urge all candidates to respect the outcome of the elections and urge them to use legal means to settle any possible electoral disputes," the statement said.

The group said it "avails itself of this opportunity to congratulate the National Election Authority for all the measures taken to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process".

The COMESA Mission in Egypt was headed by a Ugandan, Hope Kivengere.

State media said on Thursday El-Sisi secured 92% of the vote, according to preliminary results.

The official MENA news agency and the state-owned newspapers al-Ahram and Akhbar el-Youm said on Thursday that 23 million out of the 60 million registered voters - 40% - turned out to cast the ballots during the three days of polling that ended on Wednesday.

El-Sisi's opposing candidate, Mousa Mostafa Mousa, a little-known contender, who entered the presidential race hours just before the nomination deadline, received 721,000 votes, according to al-Ahram.

Mousa had previously endorsed Sisi for a second-term and his official Ghad Party had backed Sisi's presidential bid just 10 days before he announced his candidacy.

Mousa has continuously refuted accusations that his candidacy was being used to present a false sense of competition.

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