Overview

• President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is expected to secure a third term in Egypt's presidential election, with results set to be announced on December 18.
• The election has been overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Egypt's worst-ever economic crisis, with inflation over 38 percent and the Egyptian pound losing half its value in a year.
• Despite the crises, the National Elections Authority reported an 'unprecedented' turnout, with 45% of the 67 million eligible voters casting their ballots by the second day of the three-day vote.
• El-Sisi's victory is seen as almost certain, with his three competitors being relatively unknown figures in Egyptian politics.
• Rights groups have criticized el-Sisi's administration for a decade-long crackdown on dissent, with allegations of systematic harassment and intimidation of opposition supporters.