Egyptians headed to the polls on Sunday as voting began in a presidential election in which President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi faces no serious challenger.
That’s despite the country’s ongoing economic crisis, with around 30% of its 105 million population living in poverty, according to official figures.
Initially coming to power in the wake of a coup d'etat in 2013, el-Sissi is likely to end up ruling the northeast African country until 2030, after term limits were adjusted from four to six years by a constitutional amendment in 2019.
In a country that links northeast Africa with the Middle East, many Egyptians have concerns extending beyond their nation's borders.
Beginning Sunday, the three-day vote is being overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with a large focus on the conflict and Egypt's northeastern borders, as well as the suffering of Palestinians.
People watched el-Sissi's news conferences alongside foreign dignitaries as the war on Gaza took the spotlight away from domestic problems, including a lack of freedom of expression.
The vote comes as Israeli ground forces expand their operation in southern Gaza, ordering Palestinians to evacuate and head to the Mediterranean Coast or closer to the Egyptian border.
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