The official “Akhbar Al-Youm” newspaper on its website stated that a massive march is set to launch today, Monday, in Giza governorate, organized by private education across the governorate. The march includes private school owners, board members, parents, and teachers from Giza schools, along with a significant number of teachers working in private education, to support the nomination of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for a new presidential term, amounting to over 30,000 individuals. The march of private education and board members will start from the Giza Directorate of Education building until reaching Al-Jalaa Square in Dokki, holding banners calling for President Sisi to nominate himself for a new presidential term.
Yesterday, October 1st, we published on our website a report stating that “Zawia3” obtained an audio recording sent by an official from the administration of the Giza educational district to school directors in Giza governorate via a WhatsApp group. The recording, sent last Saturday, shows the official giving instructions that everyone should head on Monday, October 2nd, to the Giza administration at 12:30 PM. From the administration, they will proceed by buses at 1:00 PM to Al-Saeedia School in Giza.
The official stated, “Each school will bring a bus, and we will gather to support Mr. President. We gather to support Mr. President. Each bus will depart from in front of the school after the school day ends, heading to the administration, and from there to Al-Saeedia. We will have banners with the school’s name and flags. We will all be active to support Mr. President in the upcoming electoral period. Thank you, and happy new academic year.”
In another message sent today to the same group to confirm the previous voice message, the official said, “Based on the instructions of the administration director in the previous meeting, all employees are notified to attend the march tomorrow, Monday, October 2, 2023. No excuses are allowed. The gathering is at 1:30 PM, not 1:00 PM in front of the administration, and then moving to Al-Saeedia School in Giza. The march will be photographed, and then we will proceed to Al-Jalaa Square and return afterward. The dress color should be white, as some administrations will wear black, and others will wear red.”
The official concluded her messages, confirming that this is not a threat: “Anyone who wants to go is welcome, and those who do not want to go will be listed as absent, whether they go or not. The lists will be signed with the name and national ID. The lists will be submitted to the administration, which will hand them to the directorate, as there are strict security follow-ups regarding this matter.”
Analysts say Sisi retains the backing of the security services, most importantly the army, which has become more powerful and expanded its economic influence.
Sisi’s presidency has been marked by a crackdown on dissent across the political spectrum.
Sisi and his backers said the measures were needed to bring stability after the 2011 ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak in the “Arab Spring” uprisings and pave the way for economic development.
Activists say tens of thousands have been jailed since 2013, often without fair trials, and that the crackdown has continued despite the pardoning of some high-profile prisoners and the launch of a national political dialogue.
