President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi attended a Ramadan iftar hosted by the Egyptian Police Academy on Sunday evening, where he addressed cadets, officials and their families while warning that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could have serious economic consequences if it continues.
The gathering was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik, Police Academy chief Nidal Youssef, as well as several cabinet ministers, academy students and their families.
According to presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy, President Sisi began his remarks by welcoming the students and their families, praising their decision to join an institution responsible for protecting national security and safeguarding Egyptian citizens.
The president emphasized the importance of learning from the political upheaval that began in 2011, stressing that societies must draw lessons from difficult moments to prevent similar crises from recurring.
He noted that the past fifteen years have seen the collapse of several states in the region, highlighting what he described as the rapid recovery of the Interior Ministry after the turbulence of the early 2010s.
President Sisi praised the ministry’s efforts to rebuild and modernize Egypt’s security system, saying the process was part of a broader strategy to gradually reform state institutions without exposing the country to destabilizing shocks.
“Countries cannot withstand sudden shocks,” he said, emphasizing that reforms must be carried out carefully and deliberately to avoid creating new problems.
The president also pointed to the Interior Ministry’s role in combating terrorism and extremism over the past decade. He said one of the major challenges facing the country had been extremist ideology rooted in what he described as a misunderstanding of religion.
President Sisi stressed the distinction between personal religious belief and the concept of a state that serves all citizens, warning that ignorance and misinterpretation of religion remain among the greatest threats facing any society.
He thanked the Interior Ministry for its continued efforts to maintain stability while carrying out extensive development within the security sector.
Part of that transformation, he said, involved reforming Egypt’s prison system into what authorities describe as modern “rehabilitation and correction centers.” According to President Sisi, 48 prisons have been consolidated into seven large reform and rehabilitation complexes designed to provide education and rehabilitation programs aimed at reintegrating inmates into society.
He called for organized visits to these centers so that the public could better understand their role and observe the reforms firsthand.
President Sisi also highlighted the role of the Police Academy in preparing future officers, noting that the Interior Ministry has invested heavily not only in infrastructure but also in developing the capabilities of personnel responsible for maintaining public security.
He stressed that institutional development remains an ongoing process and urged the students to recognize the responsibility they carry as future officers tasked with protecting the country.
Turning to regional developments, President Sisi warned that the Middle East is currently facing difficult and complex circumstances due to the ongoing war in the region.
He expressed hope that the conflict would end as soon as possible, cautioning that a prolonged war could trigger wider economic repercussions both regionally and globally.
“If the crisis continues, it could lead to an economic crisis at the regional and international levels,” he said, particularly if global oil prices rise as a result of the conflict.
President Sisi added that Egypt hopes the war will not expand in ways that harm neighboring countries or their populations, calling for restraint and efforts to contain the escalation.
The president also urged national unity and careful decision-making during the current period, noting that Egypt has faced a series of economic challenges in recent years due to successive global crises.
Despite those difficulties, he said the country has managed to overcome many of the pressures through coordinated efforts across state institutions.
President Sisi concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of respectful interaction between police officers and citizens, reminding cadets that Egypt’s security and stability are a responsibility they will soon carry.
At the end of the visit, the president performed the evening and Taraweeh prayers alongside senior officials and a group of Police Academy cadets.
