Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Monday announced the lifting of the national state of emergency in place since deadly attacks in the country four years ago.
“I decided for the first time in years to cancel the extension of the state of emergency throughout the country,” el-Sissi said on Facebook. “I am glad that we share together the moment that we have long sought with struggle and hard work. Egypt has become, thanks to its great people and loyal men, an oasis of security and stability in the region,” he said.
On April 10, 2017, the Egyptian Parliament approved declaring a state of emergency for three months to “confront the dangers of terrorism” in response to bombings that targeted two churches in the north of the country, killing at least 45 people. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Since then, the state of emergency has been extended every three months by a presidential decree supported by Parliament. It was last extended on July 24. Rights groups have criticized the emergency law for giving authorities and security bodies vast powers.
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