Cairo: Egyptian President Friday night announced his intention to seek a second term in office in the country’s presidential elections due in March.
“I tell you in full frankness and transparency, hoping to allow and accept my nomination for the presidential post,” Al Sissi said in a televised statement, addressing Egyptians.
“I have nothing but working day and night. I will be able to confront every challenge as long as you are on my side,” he added.
He was speaking at the end of a forum held to review his performance since he took office in 2014.
His announcement was made on the eve of the start of candidacy registration for the March 26-28 polls.
Al Sissi, an ex-defence minister, is widely expected to win the vote in which he is unlikely to face a strong challenger.
His current term ends in June.
The first round will be held on March 26-28.
Al Sissi is widely expected to win in the first round
Al Sissi was elected in 2014, a year after leading the military to oust his predecessor Mohamed Morsi amid mass protests against the Islamist's year-long rule.
The announcement came during Al-Sissi’s closing speech at the end of the three-day “Tale of a Homeland” conference, where the president and the Egyptian government presented an overview of projects and achievements made in different fields during the last four years.
