Sisi: Strong state institutions, public confidence essential to protecting Egypt

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday, October 21, 2026, that preserving strong state institutions and public confidence in them is essential to protecting Egypt against attempts to undermine the state.

Speaking at a session titled “National and Citizen Security” on the third day of Egypt Forum 2026, Sisi stressed the need for stronger communication between state institutions and citizens to convey facts and maintain domestic cohesion.

He also said Arab national security is indivisible and that the stability of Gulf states is an integral part of Egypt’s national security.

The session addressed efforts to develop the security system, manage crises and emergencies, and respond to regional and international challenges.

It was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Defense and Military Production Ashraf Salem Zaher, with Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfiq, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty, and Armed Forces Operations Authority chief and National Authority for Crisis and Emergency Management head Mohamed Abdelrahman Rabie also taking part.

Sisi said the Interior Ministry had developed a comprehensive plan to modernize security operations in response to evolving methods of crime.

The plan rests on five pillars: upgrading police facilities and equipping them with modern technology; adopting a scientific approach that uses artificial intelligence and early detection to identify crime patterns and develop appropriate responses; investing in personnel and specialized capabilities; raising public awareness; and modernizing correctional policies for convicted offenders.

He said efforts to strengthen state institutions were essential to preventing state collapse, citing the events of 2011 as a warning.

The Armed Forces and Interior Ministry constitute the two pillars of national security, he said, adding that efforts to undermine the police and portray its practices negatively had continued, sometimes reinforced unintentionally through everyday public reactions to events.

Sisi said the Interior Ministry had a responsibility to introduce initiatives to improve and maintain public perceptions of its work. He urged the Armed Forces and the ministry to develop further initiatives to communicate regularly with citizens and provide accurate information, helping build public confidence and prevent a divide between the people and state institutions.

Referring to the events of 2011, Sisi called for keeping public memory of that period alive to prevent a recurrence. He cited attacks on security forces, the storming of police stations and prisons, and the escape of 33,000 prisoners, saying such events had serious consequences.

Attempts to undermine the police and Armed Forces also sought to cast doubt on their competence and capabilities, he added, arguing that a state with strong institutions trusted by its people is difficult to bring down.

Sisi said the development and modernization of correctional and rehabilitation centers stemmed from ethical, religious and humanitarian principles.

He said the aim was to ensure that offenders were not punished twice for the same crime, with greater emphasis on rehabilitation and helping inmates reintegrate into society. He called for visits to these centers to showcase the work undertaken.

He added that the extensive damage inflicted before 2011 had prompted a rethink of detention facilities as part of the broader security system, and said the defense and interior ministries should continue developing initiatives to strengthen communication with the public.

Sisi also highlighted the role of the National Authority for Crisis and Emergency Management as a supporting arm of the state and government in managing crises and emergencies nationwide.

Its database and capabilities had made it an additional source of support for state agencies, helping improve government performance and effectiveness, he said.

Turning to foreign policy, Sisi said Egypt’s principles since 2014 had included non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, rejecting conspiracies against states, preserving national unity and state institutions, refusing to engage with armed militias, supporting reconstruction and development, and maintaining balanced relations with all countries.

He stressed the importance of strategic balance and cautioned against taking state decisions under public pressure.

Sisi concluded by calling for continued efforts to strengthen Egypt and maintain a resilient public opinion, warning that the country faced multiple risks beyond the Ethiopian dam issue.

Arab national security, he said, was indivisible, and the stability of Gulf states was a matter of direct concern to Egypt’s national security.

He also called for restoring stability across Arab countries, including Sudan, Libya and Somalia, describing Egypt’s support for Gulf states as an extension of shared Arab national security.

Sisi further said Egypt’s military efforts were intended to defend Saudi territory and borders, not to launch attacks on Yemen.

He said Egypt would defend the territory of Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country if requested to do so, adding that Egyptian military operations would not extend beyond Egypt’s borders or those of a fellow Arab state whose security and stability Egypt sought to protect.