Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has warned that authorities are studying the possibility of referring traders who manipulate prices to military courts as tensions escalate across the Middle East.
The remarks were made during an iftar banquet hosted by the Egyptian Military Academy on Thursday, where the president addressed students, officials, and military leaders.
The gathering was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Defence Minister Ashraf Salem Zaher, Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa, as well as several ministers, senior armed forces commanders, media figures, and students from the academy and other military colleges.
According to presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy, President El-Sisi began his speech by expressing appreciation to the trainees and their families and said he was pleased to meet them at the academy. He noted that the academy currently hosts nearly 8,000 students.
The president said the institution’s programmes aim to focus on “building the individual,” stressing that education and training must translate into practical development. He highlighted the state’s continued investment in education, including the establishment of private and non-profit universities.
President El-Sisi said the academy had introduced a specialised approach to education, with experts in sociology and psychology helping design programmes to determine the best methods for preparing individuals for public service.
He also expressed satisfaction with the academy’s programmes, noting that families had previously requested the opportunity for their children to study at the Military Medical College, adding that a new class was admitted this year.
The president said building well-prepared citizens requires strong foundations to ensure individuals are balanced and capable of learning and understanding. He added that the presence of students from diverse backgrounds at the academy helps strengthen cohesion among different institutions.
President El-Sisi stressed that admission to the academy is based solely on merit and competence, saying there is no favouritism or discrimination in the selection process.
The programmes at the academy, he said, were developed in part from lessons learned from Egypt’s experiences since the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. The aim, he added, is to prepare qualified cadres capable of contributing to the development of the Egyptian state.
“Egypt needs generations with vision, awareness, and understanding who can safeguard the country’s resources for present and future generations,” the president said.
President El-Sisi also spoke about teacher training, saying educators are being prepared for deployment to schools and stressing the importance of proper qualifications.
Turning to the situation in the Middle East, the president said Egypt had tried to prevent escalation because wars bring destruction and damage the resources and interests of nations.
He said Cairo continues to make efforts to end the ongoing conflict, warning that prolonged war would come at a high cost and noting that conflicts often result from miscalculations.
President El-Sisi added that Egypt has faced numerous challenges in recent years but has responded with “utmost patience,” which he said had proven effective in dealing with some countries.
Addressing the Egyptian public, the president warned that the regional crisis could have economic repercussions, including rising prices.
He said he had directed authorities to examine the possibility of referring traders who manipulate prices to military courts, warning against exploiting the current situation.
“The country is in a state close to emergency,” President El-Sisi said, adding that the current circumstances must not be used to inflate prices or manipulate the supply of essential goods.
“Do not worry, by the grace of God, we are well. Praise be to God,” the president added.
According to the presidency, President El-Sisi concluded his visit to the academy by performing the Isha and Taraweeh prayers at the academy’s mosque.
