Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned Thursday of continuing attempts to bring down Egypt, saying that what happened between 2011 and 2013 “is not over,” that the plan behind it “has not stopped” and that “the persistence in seeking to bring down the state still exists.” He made the remarks at a graduation ceremony for judges who completed a training course at the Egyptian Military Academy. The president referred to the Jan. 25, 2011 uprising that ousted late President Hosni Mubarak, the violence that followed and the rise to power of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood before its removal in 2013. He urged Egyptians and families to remain vigilant, stressing that responsibility rested with everyone, “not only officials, intellectuals and media professionals.” The Egyptian leader also defended mandatory training courses provided by the military academy to state officials and employees across various fields, which have drawn reservations from some quarters. He described the academy as “a gateway to employment in the Egyptian state,” acknowledging that the approach had initially appeared unusual and unclear but saying its expected impact would be felt years from now. The aim of making the academy a gateway for institutions including the judiciary, Foreign Ministry and Administrative Control Authority was to apply the same standards to everyone, he explained. Detailed criteria had been established for selecting young men and women for each ministry according to its requirements, with the aim of creating an institution that applies “honest standards without favoritism or preferential treatment.” In January, Sisi announced that judges would join academy programs following controversy in judicial circles over reports that appointments to the Public Prosecution could be entrusted to the Egyptian Military Academy. Some judges had also expressed reservations over a 2023 cabinet decision requiring new appointees across state bodies and agencies, including judges, to complete a six-month qualifying course at the academy. Responding to those concerns Thursday, the president said genuine reform of state institutions required “a serious path” and time, particularly in countries with populations in the millions. He denied the “militarization of the state,” reiterating that what happened between 2011 and 2013 “is not over” and that efforts to bring down the state persist. The academy courses were also intended to give state institutions an opportunity to interact with one another and expose trainees to different career paths, he added, saying the training would bring benefits, greater cohesion and a deeper understanding of the ties binding the state together. Reflecting on 2011, the president said Egypt had witnessed “extremely dangerous practices” and faced major problems, but that “God Almighty willed that Egypt, unlike others, survive.” “What happened to other countries was arranged and planned, but Egypt survived by God’s grace,” he said, adding that the country’s resources did not allow it to confront prolonged challenges. According to the president, psychologists and sociologists helped design the academy’s programs. One objective, he explained, was to shield young people from “the idea of destroying Egypt, as was being planned for the country in 2011 and 2012.”
